On the morning of July 11, at Hualien Air Base, the Taiwanese Armed Forces carried out a “hot refueling” operation — a technique where aircraft are refueled while their engines remain running — on F-16 jets from the 5th Tactical Fighter Wing.
The maneuver was part of the Han Guang-41 military exercise, aimed at testing the readiness and resilience of Taiwan’s defense forces in realistic combat scenarios.
During the operation, mechanics and pilots worked in perfect coordination, simulating wartime conditions. Immediately after refueling, the jets took off again for additional missions, showcasing the Taiwanese Air Force’s ability to maintain continuous air operations even under pressure or imminent threat.
Source and images: Ministry of National Defense, ROC (Taiwan) | X @MoNDefense
