The Israeli air force is upgrading its in-flight refuelling capability to enable its fleet of around eight Boeing 707-300 tankers to remain in service for at least another 20 years. One of the service's 707 transports was recently converted for tanker duties, and for the first time was equipped with the same boom as that used by the US Air Force's fleet of Boeing KC-135s. Israel's earlier tankers feature a locally produced boom, which is now set to be replaced by the US system, writes Arie Egozi.
Israeli plans to use converted Boeing 767s for tanker duties will not yet be implemented due to budget problems, which have also stifled an earlier evaluation of surplus KC-135s. The air force has expanded its fleet of 707 tankers over the past three years to support its expanded requirement for in-flight refuelling.
Source: Flight International