The RAF begins using sustainable aviation fuel on routine operations

The Royal Air Force has used a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with normal jet fuel on routine operations for the first time.

Aircraft including Typhoon and Poseidon submarine hunters, operating from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, have been using a blend of conventional and SAF in an apparent first for the air force.

During November 2023 to February 2024 four million litres of blended SAF were delivered to the Royal Air Force through a contract with World Fuel Services. A further five million one hundred and fifty thousand litres of fuel are being delivered over the period July to October 2024.

The fuel is used to power aircraft operating from Lossiemouth in Morayshire, northern Scotland. RAF Lossiemouth is one of the UK’s busiest RAF stations and is home to Typhoon aircraft who are ready to deploy 24/7, 365 as part of the UK’s Quick Reaction Alert – keeping Britain secure.

Sustainable fuel sources include hydrogenated fats and oils, wood waste, alcohols, sugars, household waste, biomass and algae.

Aviation currently accounts for nearly two thirds of fuel used across defence.

In 2020, the MoD updated aviation fuel standards to allow up to 50% sustainable sources to be used in fuel mixes for defence aircraft. The RAF has been trialling different types of fuel since then. In November 2021, an RAF pilot flew a microlight aircraft powered by synthetic fuel created from air and water, described as a world-first. In Spring 2022, a drone was flown on synthetic kerosene made by genetically modified bacteria. The RAF has also tested an electric aircraft flown at RAF Cranwell.

In November 2022, an RAF Voyager trialled the use of 100% SAF, flying for 90-minutes from RAF Brize Norton, said to be a world first for a wide-bodied military aircraft, a joint endeavour between the RAF, DE&S and industry partners Airbus, AirTanker and Rolls-Royce, with the fuel supplied by Air bp.

In 2023, the Royal Air Force used SAF to achieve the first SAF blend air-to-air refuelling of a Typhoon and C-130 Hercules aircraft. This was followed by the RAF’s display typhoon being powered on blended SAF at this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo, the first time this aircraft has displayed to the public on this fuel.