A French Navy Dassault Rafale M fighter jet has successfully aerially refueled an Airbus A400M using the NARANG refueling pod developed by Safran. While this refueling capability has been around since 2021, the recent test was the first involving an A400M and was performed at a slower airspeed than usual to replicate the E-2 Hawkeye's speed. French Rafale M A400M midair refueling In a post on LinkedIn, the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) shared a picture showing the Rafale fighter jet in front of the A400M and attached by a refueling hose.
According to the DGA, the A400M was acting as a stand-in for the E-2 Hawkeye surveillance aircraft, of which France is a current operator and will soon operate a new variant capable of midair refueling. The E-2 Hawkeye is carrier-capable and is deployed with the Rafale M on the French Navy's flagship Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. The test was to measure the performance of Safran's NARANG pod at a reduced airspeed, a condition that will be necessary when the Rafale refuels France's upcoming fleet of E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes.
This can prove a problem for the NARANG pod, which is equipped with a propeller to generate power for its fuel pumps. At slower speeds, this propeller is less efficient, potentially reducing the flow of fuel. There are two main methods of aerial refueling, and both are extensively used by the United States military.
Interestingly, this Rafale-A400M pairing usually goes the other way, with fuel transferred .
