The H225M can be refueled in-flight - both by day and at night
Since 2006 with the arrival of the first H225M Caracal aircraft, the French Air Force set itself an ambitious objective - to master in-flight refueling with its new helicopters. Ten years later, the investment has paid off, and this in-flight refueling capability has been fully mastered by the EH 1/67 Pyrénées helicopter squadron based in Cazaux. With the support of the Italian and US Air Forces - which both provided tanker aircraft - the squadron has patiently assimilated the procedures and trained its crews. Two thirds of the squadron's pilots are now certified to perform in-flight refueling by day, with this certification even becoming standard within the unit. France is thus one the very few countries in the world to master the procedure.
This capability is now taken into account in operations. The French forces are fully aware of the added operational value a helicopter that can be refueled in flight provides in terms of extended range, stealth and speed of action. Several operational missions have already been performed in the Sahel using this capability, in particular with a non-stop 7-hour flight.
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