The fourth edition of the multinational European Air-to-Air Refuelling Training (EART) programme was conducted from late March to early April 2017 at Eindhoven Air Base in the Netherlands. The exercise was organised under the framework of the European Air Transport Command in cooperation with the European Defence Agency, reflecting Europe’s growing effort to strengthen collective air mobility and refuelling capabilities.
The primary objective of EART 2017 was to enhance the operational readiness of tanker aircrews and supporting personnel by placing them in realistic and demanding scenarios that mirrored the complexity of modern multinational air operations. Crews trained not only in the technical aspects of air-to-air refuelling but also in mission planning, coordination, and post-mission analysis within a combined international environment. By operating together, participating nations were able to harmonise procedures, improve interoperability, and build mutual trust among pilots, engineers, and command staff.
Training missions were integrated with a larger fighter exercise taking place in the same period, allowing tanker aircraft to support complex composite air operations involving multiple aircraft types and nations. This integration exposed crews to congested airspace, time-critical tasking, and dynamic operational demands, closely replicating the conditions they would face during real-world deployments. Over the course of the exercise, numerous tanker sorties were flown and substantial quantities of fuel were transferred in flight, demonstrating both the scale of the activity and its practical value.
Strategically, EART 2017 represented an important step in Europe’s long-term initiative to address gaps in air-to-air refuelling capacity and to prepare for joint expeditionary missions. Beyond technical training, the exercise reinforced cooperation among European air forces and contributed to a more unified and capable multinational air transport and refuelling community.
