A new next-gen refueling system aims to change how helicopters are replenished in the field, letting engines stay running while the aircraft takes on fuel.
US Airmen from the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron recently put the R-20 system to the test during their first hot-pit operation in the US Central Command area.
A UH-60 Black Hawk successfully received fuel with its engines running, drawing from a bulk fuel bladder instead of the standard R-11 fuel truck.
The results were immediate: aircraft ground time dropped by roughly 66 percent, turnaround times shortened, and limited refueling assets were freed for other missions.
According to the US Air Force, traditional cold refueling for UH-60 choppers can take up to 75 minutes, including shutdown and system checks.
Fueling at Scale
Each R-20 hose pumps up to 450 gallons (1,703 liters) per minute, with dual-hose operations delivering 900 gallons (3,406 liters).
Unlike the R-11, which maxes out at 6,000 gallons (22,710 liters), the R-20’s bulk bladders can hold more than 200,000 gallons (757,000 liters) of fuel.
This setup allows multiple aircraft to refuel simultaneously, reducing bottlenecks during high-tempo operations.
“Here we can hit two aircraft at a time, depending on size, and keep the mission going if we need to get sorties in the air,” said Airman 1st Class Samuel Ilet, 332nd ELRS fuels distribution operator.
“Deployed, you never know when something could pop off, and they have to go up as soon as possible.”
