US Air Force's flying filling station refuels F-35s over North Sea

The US Air Force has deployed a fleet of air tankers to the UK to keep the jets patrolling Nato's eastern flank fuelled and in the air.

The war in Ukraine has led to a sharp increase in the number of Nato aircraft patrolling the alliance's border with Ukraine, increasing the workload for the US KC-135 Stratotankers 

Based at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, the 15 Stratotankers are capable of carrying around 30,000 gallons of fuel - enough to fill the average car more than 2,200 times.

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They refuel other aircraft in the air using either a drogue or a basket, allowing them to refuel other Nato aircraft - such as RAF F-35s.

In order to carry out an air-to-air refuelling, airspeed is key.

Forces News joined a US aircrew refuelling an F-35, which saw the jet flying a racetrack pattern at a steady 385 miles per hour.

This allows the jets to slide into position and take their turn on the refuelling boom.

After two hours over the North Sea, the refuelling is complete and the Stratotankers can return to the UK.