FAR148 Posted March 8, 2020 Share Posted March 8, 2020 Guys, Was wondering, what was the first Russian/Soviet Union aircraft to go into production that had air to air refueling capabilities? Was it the Su-24? Steven Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted March 8, 2020 Share Posted March 8, 2020 (edited) You mean as a receiver? Bombers have had aerial refueling capability for a while. Tu-16s had wingtip-to-wingtip refueling. Tu-22s and Tu-95s have fixed refueling probes. Or did you mean just fighter sized aircraft? Edited March 8, 2020 by Dave Williams Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FAR148 Posted March 8, 2020 Author Share Posted March 8, 2020 Fighter size Quote Link to post Share on other sites
janman Posted March 8, 2020 Share Posted March 8, 2020 In that case it really was the Fencer (Su-24). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ijozic Posted March 8, 2020 Share Posted March 8, 2020 (edited) If we disregard Su-24 as a striker, I guess maybe MiG-31 01DZ? Though, it's an interceptor, not a fighter. Otherwise, I don't recall any operational fighter from the soviet union times with the probe, only prototypes. The Su-33 had one, but officially entered service only a few years after the dissolution. Edited March 9, 2020 by ijozic Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whiskey Posted March 8, 2020 Share Posted March 8, 2020 An argument could be made it was either MiG- 15 or 19 based on tests. https://rostec.ru/en/news/4514547/ However I believe that the first production aircraft with the capability was the Su-24 as previously stated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
punder Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 Su-15s did buddy tanker tests but don't know if they were the first. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
janman Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 Yes, but if we're talking about a "production" aircraft in a "fighter size" class, it's the Sukhoi Su-24. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vince Maddux Posted March 14, 2020 Share Posted March 14, 2020 Here is a crazy thought, I wonder if Su-24s refueling probes are compatible with NATO baskets? I think I read somewhere that the Russian aircraft work with western ground equipment. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 I have a photo somewhere of a Tu-95MS being 'refueled' with Liquid Oxygen (LOX) from a USAF LOX cart. The incident occured at the Fairford airshow - where the Tu-95MS was parked next to a B-52. IIRC all Russian aircraft have NATO-compatible interfaces - fuel/electrical/LOX etc..... This was so that when they overran the defences in Europe, they could quickly use NATO airfields and infrastructure. Ken PS - I'll try to dig out my photo.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 'ere ya go........ Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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