A French Navy Rafale M fighter jet refuelled for the first time an A400M military transport aircraft.

The NARANG aerial refuelling pod by the French company Safran was designed for use by the Rafale F3-R model. The system allows Dassault’s fighter jet to operate as a small aerial refuelling tanker, called a “buddy refuelling”. In the French military, this assignment is commonly known as “nounou”. which means “nanny” in French.

The pod, which achieved its first operational run in January 2021, supplies the aircraft with a flow rate between 750 and 1,000 litres per minute, compared to the 530 litres that the older systems allowed.

The DGA conducted refueling tests of the A400M from a Rafale Marine to test the new generation -NARANG refueling pod at reduced speed.

Currently, the Rafale M can refuel in the air only other Rafale fighters, as the French Navy’s E-2C Hawkeye surveillance aircraft does not have a refuelling sensor to receive fuel. 

This limitation will soon be resolved with the delivery of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes by 2027, which will be equipped with new sensors. However, the speed of the E-2D poses a challenge for the Rafale M, as it will need to be supplied at a slower speed.

Also read: Dassault Aviation | UCAV program kicks off as part of the Rafale F5 future standard