Fueling readiness: US, Morocco conduct air-to-air refueling operations at African Lion 2025

U.S. Air Force Capt. Stefan Kwiatkowski, an instructor pilot, and 1st Lt. Zach Sandoe, a pilot, both assigned to the 166th Air Refueling Squadron, Ohio Air National Guard, based in Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio, prepare for a KC-135R Stratotanker flight during African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Marrakesh, Morocco, May 13, 2025. Sixteen Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16s conducted simulated air-to-air refueling for currency and qualification. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandra M. Longfellow)