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F-35C: Carrier-Variant Navy & Marine Stealth Jets Refuel Mid-Air
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II carrier-variant stealth fighters conduct aerial refueling using the probe-and-drogue method, extending a retractable refueling probe to connect with a trailing drogue basket. Unlike the U.S. Air Force's F-35A, which uses a boom refueling system, the Navy
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U.S. Navy and Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II carrier-variant stealth fighters conduct aerial refueling using the probe-and-drogue method, extending a retractable refueling probe to connect with a trailing drogue basket. Unlike the U.S. Air Force's F-35A, which uses a boom refueling system, the Navy and Marine Corps rely on probe-and-drogue — the same method used by tanker aircraft like the KC-130J and Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets configured for buddy refueling.
The F-35C is the carrier-based variant of the F-35 family, featuring larger wings and reinforced landing gear for catapult launches and arrested landings aboard aircraft carriers. While F-35A and F-35B footage is common due to its widespread use across multiple services and allied nations, the F-35C remains a rarer sight, flown primarily by select U.S. Navy and Marine Corps squadrons.
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Attribution: USA Military Channel
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