A rare visit by US Air Force aerial refueling aircraft to an Israeli Air Force base at Ben-Gurion Airport made headlines Monday after the large KC-46 Pegasus jets were photographed by local spotters.
The deployment is considered unusual, as US military aircraft, aside from transport planes delivering equipment to the Israel Defense Forces, do not routinely operate from Israeli Air Force bases. By contrast, US forces regularly use airfields in Jordan, Iraq and Gulf states.
The newly arrived refueling aircraft represent the technological spearhead of the US aerial refueling fleet. This system allows the US Air Force and US Navy, which maintains its own separate air arm, to operate far beyond their standard combat range. In the event of fighting with the Islamic Republic of Iran, numerous refueling squadrons already transferred to bases in the region would enable US forces to operate deep inside Iranian territory from significant distances, including from bases in Jordan and from aircraft carriers positioned far off Iran's coast.
The US Air Force currently operates 77 KC-46 aircraft, which service both Navy and Air Force planes. In addition, it continues to fly more than 300 refueling aircraft from earlier models. Although the KC-46 is considered the most advanced operational refueling aircraft in the world, it has been linked in the past to a series of malfunctions, primarily involving its refueling boom and onboard vision systems.
Israel has so far purchased six KC-46 refuelers, with the acquisition of the final two approved in 2025. However, it will take additional time before it is declared operational, as Israel plans to install Israeli-made systems on the new planes and adapt them to the Israeli Air Force's operational needs.
The Boeing KC-46 has a range of 11,830 kilometers (7,350 miles) and several additional capabilities, including the ability to refuel two aircraft simultaneously, with the option of examining the feasibility of refueling three at once. It can operate day and night and in all weather conditions. The aircraft can also carry a combination of passengers and cargo. As a military platform, it is equipped with self-defense systems.
During Operation Rising Lion, the Israeli Air Force carried out more than 60 aerial refuelings using aging Boeing aircraft, enabling a sustained Israeli Air Force presence over Iran. Squadron 120, the refueling squadron that operates the tankers, marked its 60th anniversary last year. The squadron specializes in complex aerial refueling missions across multiple arenas and at significant distances, allowing the Israeli Air Force to operate deep inside enemy territory and at extended ranges under risk.
Refueling aircraft are capable of long-distance flights and precise fuel transfers in a wide range of scenarios, requiring complex coordination with strike squadrons. Each plane carries dozens of tons of fuel and conducts midair refueling even in hostile areas, ensuring operational continuity and the ability to strike targets at extended distances. Aerial refueling constitutes a critical pillar of Israel's deterrence and response capabilities, particularly in distant theaters such as Iran and Yemen.
