The plane, assigned to the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, executed a "hot-pit refuel," in which it was refueled with engines running and its crew remaining in the cockpit.
The maneuver "drastically reduces refueling times so that bombers can more rapidly return to the skies," an Air Force statement on Friday said.
The landing was also the first time the quick refueling operation was conducted on a bomber in Europe.
Hot-pit refueling is an element of Agile Combat Employment, which enhances bombers' ability to rapidly deploy and operate from remote locations with varying levels of capacity and support.
The practice increases lethality, strengthens interoperability and advances efficiency in accomplishing the mission, according to the U.S. Strategic Command.
"Proving the rapid refueling concept today in Poland alongside some of our closest allies speaks for itself," said Gen. Jeff Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa commander. "Our bombers can get after the mission anytime, anywhere."
While traveling to NATO partner Poland, the B-1 flew from Orland Air Force Station, Norway, and integrated with fighter planes of Sweden, Poland and the Netherlands in a Bomber Task Force Europe training mission called Spring Spear.
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, is Copyright 1995-2026 Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principles for news reporting and research purposes. |
