Vulcan Bomber
Aerial refueling role
After the end of the Falklands War, the Vulcan was due to be withdrawn from RAF service. However, the disbandment of 57 Squadron and delays in the operational availability of the Lockheed TriStar left a gap in the RAF's air to air refueling capability, as the Victor aircraft that were used for air-to-air refueling in a complex scheme in the Black Buck operations, used up their air life in these operations[9] and left a gap in the RAF's air to air refueling capability.
As an interim measure, six Vulcan B.2s were converted into air-to-air refueling (AAR) tankers, with a single HDU box tacked onto the rear of the fuselage.[9] To accommodate this crude, but functional HDU box and extra equipment, the ECM bay was gutted.[9] The go ahead was given on Tuesday 4 May 1982[10] and quickly detail manufacture was undertaken at both Woodford and Chadderton, with help from BAe Warton Division and Flight Refueling Limited, who helped with redesign of the HDU to make it fit into the Vulcan.[10] Fifty days later, on Wednesday 23 June, the first Vulcan Air Tanker XH561 was delivered to RAF Waddington.[10]
These Vulcans were then commissioned into service with 50 Squadron from 1982 to 1984. The additional fuel load in the Vulcan K.2 Air Tanker was carried in three standard Vulcan long-range tanks, which were fitted in the bomb bay.[11] This gave a total fuel capacity of 100,000 lb (45,000 kg).[11]