KC-46 tankers strengthen U.S.-Australia alliance during Talisman Sabre 2025
NORTHERN TERRITORY, Australia -- In the red, sunbaked expanse of Australia's Northern Territory, four U.S. Air Force KC-46 Pegasus tankers accomplished all 22 planned missions during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, showcasing a 100 percent mission success rate while supporting a key Ally in the Pacific region.
Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between the United States and Australia, focused on advancing a safe and secure Indo-Pacific region through enhanced interoperability with key Allies and partners. This year's iteration placed a premium on joint logistics, integration across domains, and expeditionary operations.
The aircraft, two from Travis Air Force Base, California, and two from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, supported a series of air refueling exercise operations, enabling joint flights with Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II and F/A-18 Hornet aircraft.
Royal Australian Air Force Air Commodore Louise des Jardins, Australian commander of the Air Task Group 640.7, during a press brief said, "[Talisman Sabre] is a great opportunity for our friends and partners to come join us and to train together. There are 18 partner nations joining Australia in this 11th iteration of Talisman Sabre ... for me, this exercise is not just about flying aircraft, it's about preparing for complex high-end war fighting."
That preparation extended beyond the flight deck. The unblemished record, made possible by the around-the-clock efforts of aircraft maintenance Airmen, underscores the KC-46 Pegasus' growing value to the U.S. Department of Defense as a globally deployable aerial refueling platform. Designed for flexibility and enhanced communications capability, the Pegasus is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of U.S. mobility operations.
“A large part of what makes the KC-46 unique is the tactical data link and the communications extension that it can do,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Daniel McLaughlin, 6th Air Refueling Squadron commander. “Being able to use that with our Allies and partners … that is something we don’t get to do a whole lot back at home station.”
Deploying a tanker fleet halfway across the globe posed major logistical hurdles, from transporting critical spare parts and maintenance equipment to ensuring digital connectivity with command and control elements. Overcoming those challenges required meticulous coordination that extended the KC-46's operational reach.
The opportunity to build trust and familiarity with the Royal Australian Air Force was equally significant. The close coordination between U.S. and Australian forces on daily sorties served to reinforce a shared understanding of tactics, techniques and procedures — crucial to any future operation in the region.
“The geographical point of Australia is key,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Alisson Moraes, 6th Air Refueling Squadron KC-46 Pegasus pilot. “Having a constant presence here enables us to be near the fight so we can fuel the fight when needed.”
That consistency runs deep in the Northern Territory, a region with a long history of U.S.-Australian military cooperation dating back to World War II. From staging grounds for Pacific campaigns to today’s combined exercises and forward operations, the area continues to serve as a strategic anchor for regional security efforts.
“We have the vision of a bilateral exercise executed by a growing number of partners willing to contribute to what the end state of Talisman Sabre really is and that is demonstrating this multi domain, combined, joint, high-end readiness," said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Shannon Smith, 13th Air Expeditionary Task Force commander. “Validation that we are capable of doing that to continue to have a safe Asia-Pacific that respects sovereignty and security across the region.”
Flight safety remained a central priority throughout Talisman Sabre with dozens of aircraft from multiple nations operating in shared airspace. Pegasus crews adhered to strict safety protocols during every mission, from preflight planning to air refueling operations, while coordinating with coalition partners under dynamic conditions.
“When we arrived, we got a thorough air space briefing with the Australians as well as the other coalition partners that are participating in this exercise,” said Capt. Patrick Corona, 6th Air Refueling Squadron flight safety officer. “The Australians were really forthcoming about making sure we had all the information we needed to mitigate those risks on the front end so that when it came time to execute a mission that everybody could just focus on the tactics, techniques, procedures, and the end goal.”
Airmen from across multiple mission sets, including pilots and boom operators, crew chiefs and mission planners, worked together to mitigate risk and maintain safe operations, despite unfamiliar terrain, long duty days, and evolving mission sets.
McLaughlin explained how every day brings unique challenges, but despite the dynamic environment, the teams remain postured to adapt and overcome them to ensure fuel and information are delivered at the right place and the right time.
As the exercise concludes, the success of the air mobility component stands as a testament to its Airmen’s ability to adapt, operate, and succeed in any environment the mission requires.