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)

A French fighter aircraft rolls left away from a KC-135 Stratotanker flown by the 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron during a March 17, 2013, mission.

A French fighter aircraft refuels from a KC-135 Stratotanker flown by the 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron during a March 17, 2013, mission.

(Left to right) Senior Airman Michael Warren and Tech. Sgt. Michael Mackey, both with the 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, review maintenance logs and the flight plan with 1st Lt. John Lachiewicz and Capt. Tim Gerne, both with the 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, prior to their flight on March 17, 2013.

First Lt. John Lachiewicz and Capt. Tim Gerne, both 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, bank their KC-135 Stratotanker toward the runway after a March 17, 2013, refueling mission.

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.