This stunning cabin footage shows a fleet of Russian supersonic fighter jets refuelling in the air by connecting to a hose from an aerial refuelling tanker just 20 metres away.
The spectacular video was released by the Russian Ministry of Defence and was recorded in the air over two western Russian regions: Rostov Oblast and Volgograd Oblast.
In the video, an Ilyushin Il-78 aerial fuel tanker can be seen taking off and reaching a fleet of Sukhoi Su-34 fighter jets.
Footage taken from the cabins of the fighters jets shows them connecting to the refuelling hose from the aerial tanker, expertly manoeuvring at 600 kph (372 mph) to attach their fuel probes to the hose.
The refuelling was reportedly carried at an altitude of 6,000 metres (19,685 feet) with just 20 metres (65 feet) between the tanker and the fighter jets.
The Il-78 is capable of refueling from between eight to ten fighters in a single flight.
Deputy Commander of the Hero of Russia squadron, Major Andrei Dyachenko sais in April that “the nighttime refuelling” between the Su-34 and the Il-78 “is especially spectacular”, adding: “Only the lights of the tanker and the hose are seen so you fly based on what devices show and your own composure, but your palms still get sweaty.”
Russians Showed Air Refueling From Fighter Cabin 
Russians Showed Air Refueling From Fighter Cabin
The twin-engine supersonic medium-range fighter-bomber Sukhoi Su-34 first flew in 1990 and it entered service in 2014 with the Russian Air Force.
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Story By: Gheorghi Caraseni, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Central European News
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