UK considers aerial refuelling for helicopters IHS Janes
Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
19 January 2016
The United Kingdom may field a helicopter aerial refuelling capability for the first time under options being considered following the recent Strategic Defence and Security review (SDSR), a senior official said on 18 January.
Speaking in London under the Chatham House Rule, the official said that air-to-air refuelling (AAR) of helicopters was one of a number of capability-enhancement options that were being explored by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), although it was too soon to say whether it would be adopted.
"I can't put [rumours of] aerial refuelling for helicopters to bed. We are looking at options to fly further, faster, and better as part of SDSR, and no decisions have yet been made," the official said, adding that it will be "quite a few months" before any decision is announced, one way or another.
The United Kingdom does not currently field a helicopter type that is AAR capable, although the Finmeccanica Helicopters (formerly AgustaWestland) AW101 Merlin HC3s fielded by the Royal Navy (RN) are provisioned for an aerial-refuelling probe beneath the nose. A number of the Boeing Chinook HC4/5/6 platforms fielded by the Royal Air Force (RAF) could be retrofitted also, although this would not necessarily be a simple task, or a number of MH-47G special mission Chinooks already fitted with an AAR probe could be acquired instead.
Besides not currently fielding a helicopter that is equipped with AAR, the United Kingdom is also hamstrung by not having a suitable tanker aircraft in service. Currently, all UK tanking needs are contracted to the AirTanker consortium which utilises the Airbus Defence and Space (DS) A330 Voyager, which flies too high and fast to refuel helicopters. The Airbus DS A400M Atlas airlifter has been found to be unsuitable also, due to airflow issues, and while the Lockheed Martin C-130J could perform the task, it would first require an amendment to AirTanker's contract with the MoD.