On 11 July 2024 Metrea Strategic Mobility (Metrea) announced it completed the acquisition of all fourteen Boeing C-135FR and KC-135RG tankers from the French Air and Space Forces (AdlA).

 

The fleet of eleven C-135FR's were officially turned over to the private American company on 26 June 2024. The transfer dates for the remaining three KC-135RG aircraft is not yet known and is most likely depending on the delivery of the last three Airbus A330 MRTT tankers to the airforce.

 

AdlA has stored the C-135FR tankers at BA Nimes Garons in the south of France. Metrea hopes to get the first one of them into service between 30 and 45 days. A second one should become active again before the end of the year.

 

A couple of other ones that require more intense maintenance are expected in flying condition again by the end of the second quarter of 2025.

 

Eleven French tankers have already been allocated US civil registrations and the tie-ups look as follows:

 

N604MA, ex US 63-8470,   ex AdlA 470/31-CA

N623MA, ex US 63-8471,   ex AdlA 471/31-CB

N632MA, ex US 63-8472,   ex AdlA 472/31-CC

N638MA, ex US 63-8474,   ex AdlA 474/31-CE

N679MA, ex US 63-8475,   ex AdlA 475/31-CF

N717MA, ex US 63-12735, ex AdlA 735/31-CG

N752MA, ex US 63-12736, ex AdlA 736/31-CH

N763MA, es US 63-12737, ex AdlA 737/31-CI

N764MA, ex US 63-12738, ex AdlA 738/31-CJ

N769MA, ex US 63-12739, ex AdlA 739/31-CK

N781MA, ex US 63-12740, ex AdlA 740/31-CL

 

After the earlier purchase of four ex Singapore Air Force KC-135R tankers, Metrea will become the leading private company in aerial refueling. Their major customers until now are mainly the US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Air Force but no doubt they are seeking to expand to whoever is in need of their services.