Two F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the Royal Norwegian Air Force fly alongside to the wing of a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to RAF Mildenhall, England, while participating in the Baltic Region Training Event April 22, 2015, over the Baltic region. The BRTE is an advanced training concept that serves to further develop cooperation with NATO allies and partners within the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Victoria H. Taylor/Released)

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy, approaches for air refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, March 4, 2015, during Exercise Iron Hand over southern France. Through forward presence and ready forces, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa executes missions in support of regional and global operations to provide global vigilance, global reach and global power for national objectives across an area spanning 104 countries. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kate Maurer/Released)

KC-135 Stratotanker boom operator Senior Airman Michael Danilowski, assigned to the 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, performs air refueling on a French fighter aircraft, February 15, 2013. The 351st EARS is comprised of members of the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, who deployed to a forward operating location in southwest Europe, Jan. 26, 2013. The 351st EARS began flying refueling missions on Jan. 27, 2013, to refuel French fighter aircraft conducting operations in Mali.

RAF MILDENHALL, England – Anne Batey, school governor at Beck Row Primary School, takes a ride in the KC-135 Stratotanker flight simulator Aug. 21, 2012, in Bldg. 816. The simulator is used as a training tool for pilots to practice flying as well as how to deal with scenarios such as in-flight emergencies and flying in varying weather conditions.

RAF MILDENHALL, England – Terry Hamill, a worker at a local autistic home, takes a look at parts of the landing gear of a KC-135 Stratotanker Aug. 21, 2012, on the flightline. Hamill and seven other members of the local community were invited by the British-American Committee for a tour of the base. The tour also consisted of wing mission brief, visits to the air traffic control tower, a ride in the KC-135 Stratotanker flight simulator and a tour of a static aircraft on the flightline.

RAF MILDENHALL, England – Stuart Cook, a local business owner, looks out the boom operator’s pod of a KC-135 Stratotanker as part of a base tour Aug. 21, 2012, on the flightline. Following a ride in the KC-135 flight simulator, the group was given a tour the aircraft where they had the opportunity to climb into the boom pod and sit in the pilot and co-pilot seats in the flight deck.

NORTH SEA – A Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon flies off the tail of an RAF L-1011 TriStar aerial refueling tanker from 216 Squadron, RAF Brize Norton, during a formation flight Aug. 16, 2012. The formation included the TriStar and a U.S. Air Force KC-135 from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, and was flown to better familiarize NATO tanker aircrews with their partner nations’ air refueling procedures.

RAF FAIRFORD, United Kingdom - Capt. John Skypeck, 351st Air Refueling Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, U.K., discusses the capabilities of the KC-135 Stratotanker with Air Training Cadets at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford.

Praising the relationship between his nation and the United States, the prime minister of Latvia observed an aerial refueling operation aboard a U.S. KC-135 Stratotanker over the noontime skies of his nation, June 17.

Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip visited Airmen from the Michigan Air National Guard who were operating fighter and aerial refueling aircraft at the Amari Air Base in Estonia during Saber Strike 2012

Valdis Dombrovskis, prime minister of Latvia, sits at the controls of a KC-135 Stratotanker, June 17, 2012. With the prime minister is Capt. Mark Vaught of the Michigan Air National Guard. The MI-ANG was operating in Latvia and Estonia during Saber Strike 2012, a multinational, tactical field training exercise that involves more than 2,000 personnel from the U.S. Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment Pennsylvania National Guard, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, the 4th U.S. Marine Division, the127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard, Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian armed forces, with contingents from Canada, Finland, France and the U.K. The exercise, led by U.S. Army Europe, is designed to enhance joint and combined interoperability between the U.S. Army and partner nations, and will help prepare participants to operate successfully in a joint, multinational, interagency, integrated environment.

Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip is briefed on the capabilities of a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker by Lt. Col. Paul Beck, a pilot with the 171st Air Refueling Squadron. The aircraft was in Estonia for Saber Strike 2012, a multi-national exercise based in Estonia and Latvia.

Master Sgt. George Hall, a KC-135 boom operator with the Michigan Air National Guard, prepares to refuel an A-10 Thunderbolt II Aircraft, June 12, 2012 while Lieutenent Col. Janek Lehiste, Air Surveillence Wing Commander with the Estonian Air Force at Amari Air Base observes. Michigan Air National Guard Airmen deployed to Estonia in mid-June 2012 in support of the Saber Strike Exercise, a multinational exercise based in Latvia and Estonia which promotes trust and interoperability among participating nations.

The 100th Air Refueling Wing hosted 15 French air force personnel from Base Aérienne 125, Istres, France, here Jan. 4 and 5, to build and strengthen partnerships created during Operation Unified Protector.

RAF MILDENHALL, England – Lt. Col. Robert Ricks, 100th Air Refueling Wing director of staff, shows French air force Maj. Sebastien Pages the cockpit of a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft flight simulator here Jan. 5, 2012. A group of French airmen visited the base as part of efforts to maintain and strengthen U.S. and French air force working relationships.

KEFLAVIK, Iceland -- Royal Norwegian air force F-16s fly off the wing of a 459th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker awaiting to receive fuel during Northern Viking 2011 here June 8. Northern Viking tests the capabilities of Iceland and the country's NATO allies, as well as increase the readiness of the forces involved and their interoperability. The Reserve 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., participated in this year's exercise along with other active-duty and Air National Guard units.