Fueling readiness: US, Morocco conduct air-to-air refueling operations at African Lion 2025

Three Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons fly in formation next to a U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the 166th Air Refueling Squadron, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Ohio Air National Guard, based in Rickenbacker Air National Guard, Ohio, as the aircrafts wait their turn to conduct simulated air-to-air refueling for currency and qualification during African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Morocco, May 13, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandra M. Longfellow)

A Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon gets into position for a simulated air-to-air refuel qualification by a U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the 166th Air Refueling Squadron, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Ohio National Guard, based in Rickenbacker Air National Guard, Ohio, during African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Morocco, May 13, 2025. The KC-135R conducted simulated refueling for 16 F-16s during their mission. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandra M. Longfellow)

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Abdoul Yam, a material management craftsman assigned to the 121st Logistics Readiness Squadron, 121st Air Refueling Wing (121st ARW), Ohio Air National Guard, looks out the window of a KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the 166th Air Refueling Squadron, 121st ARW, based in Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio, to watch 16 Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons conduct simulated air-to-air refueling for currency and qualification during African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Morocco, May 13, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandra M. Longfellow)

A Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon flies next to a U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the 166th Air Refueling Squadron, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Ohio Air National Guard, based in Rickenbacker Air National Guard, Ohio, as the aircraft waits its turn to simulate air-to-air refueling for currency and qualification during African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Morocco, May 13, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandra M. Longfellow)