German military staged its first aerial refueling mission of allied fighter jets targeting the so-called ’Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’ (ISIL) takfiri group.
German military staged its first aerial refueling mission of allied fighter jets targeting the so-called 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL) takfiri group, the armed forces said Wednesday.
The A310 MRTT refueled two combat aircraft Tuesday before returning from its five-hour mission shortly after midnight to the southern Turkey military base at Incirlik, said a Bundeswehr spokesman, without identifying the other planes involved.
The tanker aircraft is part of Berlin's deployment to aid the multinational anti-ISIL coalition, which also includes six German Tornado surveillance jets, a frigate helping protect the French Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and up to 1,200 troops.
Unlike France, the United States and Britain, Germany is not conducting bombing missions.