The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has completed an air-to-air refueling flight using a Voyager tanker powered by an approximately 43% blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
SAF is made from waste sustainable feedstocks, such as used cooking oil, blended with regular fuel.
Current regulations permit a maximum of a 50:50 blend of sustainable aviation fuel and traditional fossil fuels.
The RAF has been experimenting with SAF as part of their aim to be net zero by 2040.
The UK Ministry of Defence says SAF reduces life cycle carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel and will be key to reducing the RAF's reliance on global supply chains and fossil fuels while improving operational resilience.
The UK's Jet Zero Council, a partnership between industry and government, aims to deliver at least 10% SAF in the UK fuel mix by 2030 and achieve 'jet zero’ by 2050.
