Aviators from Tactical Supply Wing are enhancing and expanding their Air Landed Aircraft Refuelling System (ALARS) procedures; a tactical fuels capability that is air-inserted and typically used to enable theatre entry operations in contested, degraded, and operationally limited environments or during disaster relief operations.
_____________________________________________________________
ALARS is usually used when aviation fuel cannot be moved to a location by road because it would either be too dangerous, too overt, too far, too slow, or because the refuelling location is simply not accessible by vehicle.
ALARS involves the defueling of fixed wing aircraft (usually at night with the engines running) into fuel storage media - typically fabric ‘pillow’ tanks or Bulk Fuel Carrying Vehicles that are air-inserted with Tactical Supply Wing operators on the same aircraft. On completion of the defuel, the fixed wing aircraft departs, leaving a follow-on Tactical Refuelling Area for tri-service battlefield helicopters and other aircraft.
For most of Tactical supply Wing's history, ALARS operations have been conducted with the C-130J Hercules, however with the aircraft fast approaching its out of service date, Tactical Supply Wing is keen to develop formalised procedures with the A400M and C17 Squadrons. Over two days at RAF Brize Norton, TSW operators will work with aircrew from 70 and 99 Squadrons to develop equipment load plans, and offload, site setup and operating drills – the event will culminate with live flying, defueling and refuelling operations. Once formalised, these procedures with be regularly exercised and written-in to operational contingency plans.
Over Tactical Supply Wing 50-year history it has deployed ALARS in support to front line and humanitarian Operations globally. Most notably:
- Operation GRANBY (Iraq)
- Operation VERITAS (Afghanistan)
- HERRICK (Afghanistan)
- Operation TELIC (Kuwait and Iraq)
- Operation MINURSO (Morocco)
- Operation BARWOOD (Mozambique)
_____________________________________________________________
