Ramstein Flag 2025 Exercise - Air-to-Air Report

Dutch F-35A aircraft flies alongside an A330 MRTT tanker aircraft waiting to be refueled.

The annual multinational exercise Ramstein Flag 2025 (RAFL25) took place from 31 March to 11 April. It involved several Allied fighters conducting complex multi-domain operations alongside tankers from Canada, France, Italy, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport Unit (MMU).

RAFL25 brought together over 90 Allied fighters, including F-35s, Rafales, Eurofighters, Gripens, F-16s and F-18s. The aircraft flew primarily from Leeuwarden Air Base, but units also operated from bases in Denmark and the United Kingdom.

The aircraft participated in advanced combat scenarios under the direction of Allied Air Command. Air-to-air refueling played a crucial role in supporting these complex missions, allowing aircraft to stay in the air longer, reducing ground time and increasing effectiveness. The fighters operated from multiple air bases in Europe, and RAFL25 emphasized the concept of distributed air operations.

A Canadian CC-150 Polaris, an Italian Boeing KC-767 and a Turkish KC-135R, as well as a UK Voyager, an American KC-135 Stratotanker and an A330 MRTT from the Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport Unit (MMU), provided the refueling capability. The MMU is a multinational aircraft refueling unit, consisting of aircraft from several NATO countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Czech Republic. The unit operates from Eindhoven Air Base and Cologne-Bonn Airport in Germany and provides a critical refueling capability for the alliance. During RAFL25, MMU tankers participated in the exercise from Eindhoven alongside Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft, supporting fighters from various allies.

During a dedicated tanker flight supported by the MMU, four RAF Typhoons were refueled while operating from Lossiemouth. The refueling took place off the coast of Denmark, significantly extending their deployment time. Additionally, four Dutch F-35s used the same refueling flight to refuel over the North Sea, increasing their operational flexibility and strike power. The exercise scenario was designed to increase operational flexibility and resilience against potential threats to fixed installations in order to enable a more effective distribution of air force capacity. In-flight refueling enables NATO units to conduct and sustain missions without disruption.

The ability to refuel aircraft in-flight is a critical force multiplier. It enables Allied forces to conduct dynamic and distributed air operations without disruption and improves interoperability between NATO member states. This strengthens the Alliance's ability to project air power and maintain air superiority. RAFL25 highlighted the flexibility of NATO forces and was an important demonstration of the capabilities, resilience and collective defence of air forces. The exercise enabled NATO air forces to remain prepared to meet the challenges of an ever-changing security landscape.

Report By Joris van Boven and Alex van Noije