Historic First: Malaysian Russian-Built Fighters Receive U.S. Mid-Air Refueling

In a groundbreaking military cooperation event on November 12, 2024, American tanker aircraft supported Malaysian fighter jets in a unique aerial refueling exercise. The 141st Air Refueling Wing of the U.S. Air National Guard successfully refueled three Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighters operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force, using their KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft over Malaysian airspace.

This milestone operation, conducted through the State Partnership Program established between both nations in 2017, demonstrated the KC-135’s versatile probe and drogue refueling capability with Russian-designed aircraft. The mission marks a significant step forward in U.S.-Malaysian defense collaboration and underscores their joint commitment to maintaining security in the Indo-Pacific region.