The European Air Transport Command (EATC) proudly took part in the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Aerial Refuelling Systems Advisory Group (ARSAG), held in Las Vegas, USA, this April. With approximately 450 participants from across the allied aerial refuelling (AAR) community, the event once again proved to be the premier international forum for advancing interoperability, standardization, and innovation in AAR operations.
ARSAG, formally designated by the US Department of Defense as the Joint Standardization Board for Aerial Refuelling Systems, plays a central role in shaping the procedures, systems, and standards that underpin safe and effective multinational refuelling operations. Its annual meeting brings together military and industry representatives from over 20 nations—including NATO and key global partners such as the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, and, notably this year, Brazil with Embraer—to collaborate on the technical and operational challenges of air-to-air refuelling.
EATC has participated in ARSAG since 2021, a recognition of its growing influence as Europe’s foremost AAR provider. This year, the command was represented by Colonel François Gilbert, Head of the Mission Generation Branch, who took part in key discussions and working sessions. His engagement reflected EATC’s ongoing commitment to shaping the future of interoperable, coalition-based refuelling operations.
Alongside EATC, other European stakeholders such as the Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport Unit (MMU) and the Movement Coordination Centre Europe (MCCE) were also present, highlighting the increasingly integrated European approach to AAR. The exchange of knowledge, lessons learned, and best practices within ARSAG’s technical working groups—ranging from boom/receptacle verification to aircrew procedures—demonstrated the indispensable role of collaboration in ensuring compatibility across a diverse and growing fleet of tanker and receiver aircraft.
EATC’s presence also underlines the command’s alignment with ARSAG’s overarching objective: to enable the highest degree of interoperability and safety across allied tanker and receiver operations. The outcomes of this year’s meeting will continue to shape future NATO standards, including revisions to the ATP-3.3.4.2 (formerly ATP-56), which codify shared operational procedures across the alliance.
As EATC continues to strengthen its leadership in the European AAR domain, its sustained engagement with ARSAG and its international stakeholders remains essential. The command looks forward to contributing further to the global effort of enhancing interoperability, efficiency, and trust among allied air forces.