The RAF notoriously lacks a boom air-to-air refueling capability to support the Poseidon, and the simulated refueling with a KC-135 signals steps are being taken to address the issue.
A RAF (Royal Air Force) P-8A Poseidon received fuel mid-air for the first time, or at least simulated the operation, from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker in two sorties during the ongoing Exercise Cobra Warrior 25-2 in the United Kingdom. Both the services announced the event, stressing upon the operation’s role in expanding the capabilities of the P-8A and further strengthening allied interoperability.
This is a significant milestone for the RAF’s P-8A Poseidon, also officially designated the Poseidon MRA1, as it lacked a UK-based refueling option. In fact, the Voyager KC2 and KC3 (British designation for the Airbus A330 MRTT) notoriously lack a boom, required to refuel the Poseidon, instead being equipped only with a hose-and-drogue refueling system.
The milestone comes just weeks after 42 (TB – Torpedo Bomber) Squadron was formally re-established at RAF Lossiemouth in a ceremony attended by King Charles III. One of the unit’s Poseidons took part in the refueling mission.
Refueling sortie
RAF Lossiemouth released on Sep. 22 undated footage from inside a P-8A cockpit while connecting with the American KC-135 from RAF Mildenhall’s 100th Air Refueling Wing (ARW). The base said on X: “42 (TB) Sqn has made RAF history! As part of Ex COBRA WARRIOR, they have conducted the first air-to-air refueling of a RAF P8 in the UK. This is an amazing step in expanding the capabilities of the P8.”
The clip from inside the P-8A cockpit shows the boom extending from its shroud, with a portion of its length disappearing behind the cockpit windshield. This would suggest that an actual contact may have taken place.
On the other hand, the U.S. Air Force, releasing images captured from the tanker, called the event a “simulated aerial refueling exercise,” mentioning it happened on Sep. 17 over the North Sea. The images do not show the refueling boom making contact with the P-8A’s receptacle, which is placed above the cockpit.
Considering this, we do not know if the fuel transfer ultimately took place and if there was a contact at all. The “simulated aerial refueling exercise” might have only included procedures for the rejoin, movement to the pre-contact and contact positions, as well as the post refueling separation.
However, the RAF mentioned two sorties without providing dates. Because of this, we can’t exclude that a first sortie only simulated the refueling and during a second one the operation actually took place and fuel was transferred.
Anyway, the mission might not have taken a lot of certification and flight trial efforts, since the P-8A in the U.S. Navy service is already cleared to receive fuel from the KC-135, routinely connecting with the aircraft, both over the CENTCOM and the EUCOM regions. Similarly to what is being done with other programs, such as the E-7 Wedgetail, the U.S. Navy and RAF might have shared the required knowledge to conduct the operation.
42 (TB) Sqn has made RAF History!
As part of Ex COBRA WARRIOR, they have conducted the first air-to-air refuel of a RAF P8 in the UK. pic.twitter.com/wSEEkaSDoF
— RAF Lossiemouth (@RAFLossiemouth) September 22, 2025
The RAF operates a total of nine P-8As delivered since February 2020, and are also assigned to the No. 120 Sqn and the No. 201 Sqn, beside the 42 (TB) Sqn. The 42 (TB) is also an ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting and Reconnaissance) Operational Conversion Unit, which trains crews and engineers for the P-8A Poseidon and the E-7 Wedgetail.
Helping UK’s P-8A fleet
On Facebook, while revealing that two sorties with the British P-8A and the U.S. KC-135 took place during Exercise Cobra Warrior, RAF Lossiemouth said: “The ability to receive fuel in the air is a vital step in expanding the P-8s capabilities, ensuring more time securing the seas and skies without the need to return to base.”
The UK Defence Journal named one Sqn. Ldr. Kane, who “previously served on exchange with the US Navy and gained extensive experience testing Poseidon refuelling with both KC-135 and KC-46 tankers, captained the historic flight.”
The report further quoted an RAF spokesperson: “This is a major milestone for the UK Poseidon. The P-8 is already a versatile aircraft but being able to extend the time those missions can stay in the air will be of huge benefit to both the RAF and our allies.”
Recently a P-8A Poseidon from @RAFLossiemouth tracked a Russian landing ship, the RFN Aleksandr Shabalin, through the English Channel.
The RAF conducts maritime patrolling around the clock to protect our seas and successfully deterring our adversaries remains an RAF priority. pic.twitter.com/Ehujp7VcLV
— Royal Air Force (@RoyalAirForce) January 16, 2025
The added capability would possibly benefit also the Deutsche Marine’s (German Navy’s) P-8A fleet, which Berlin and London have planned to combine for future joint maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare missions in the North Sea and the North Atlantic.
Exercise Cobra Warrior
Exercise Cobra Warrior 25-2 is already seeing the participation of two USAF B-52H Stratofortress bombers from Barksdale AFB’s 307th Bomb Wing, which arrived at RAF Fairford on Sep. 12, ahead of the exercise.
The captions of the KC-135 and P-8A refueling’s images on DVIDS called Cobra Warrior 25-2 “the Royal Air Force’s premier tactical training event,” adding that it “provided opportunities for allied and partner nation air forces to learn from one another, including during this first ever simulated aerial refueling exercise between a U.S. Air Force KC-135 and an RAF P-8 Poseidon.”
