The US Air Force and the Chilean Air Force have conducted a first-of-its-kind air-to-air refueling involving a Chilean KC-135 Stratotanker and two US F-35A Lightning II aircraft.
The operation took place during the transit of the US F-35A Demonstration Team from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, to Chile for the international aerospace and defense exhibition FIDAE 2026, described as the largest trade show in Latin America.
After initial refueling support from a US KC-135 departing MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, a Chilean KC-135 took over near the border between Peru and Ecuador.
Each F-35 was refueled multiple times across both legs, with the Chilean tanker delivering roughly 41,000 pounds (18,600 kilograms) of fuel before escorting the aircraft into Chile.
The flight lasted around 10 hours and was executed with limited preparation time.
According to participating crews, the operation followed established procedures compatible with NATO standards.
Boosting Interoperability
US pilots indicated that similar binational refueling scenarios had been discussed previously but had not been carried out until this mission.
Chilean crews indicated that, despite the different receiver aircraft, the process closely mirrored operations with their existing F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet.
Officials from both sides described the mission as smooth and procedurally aligned, highlighting it as a practical demonstration of bilateral interoperability.
The US Air Force stated that “Chile remains a key US partner in the Southern Cone, with continued US Air Force participation underscoring a shared commitment to security and stability.”
