How do I refuel in DCS World?
To refuel in DCS World, either park at a friendly service point and choose Ground Crew → Rearm and Refuel from the communications menu, or contact a compatible tanker, request refuelling, take the pre-contact position and connect by boom or probe-and-drogue. The exact cockpit switches depend on the aircraft module.
How do I refuel on the ground in DCS World?
Park within a friendly airfield, carrier or FARP service area, contact the ground crew and set the required fuel quantity in the Rearm and Refuel panel.
- Stop at a valid service point. Use a parking position or designated servicing area belonging to your coalition. Apply the parking brake and keep the aircraft stationary.
- Make ground communication possible. Shutting down the engines and opening the canopy is the most dependable method. Aircraft that support hot servicing may require the intercom or ground-crew communication system instead.
- Open the communications menu. The general communications key is normally
\, although keyboard layouts and custom bindings differ. Select Ground Crew, followed by Rearm and Refuel. - Choose the fuel load. Adjust the internal fuel control and confirm the request. External fuel tanks are normally selected as pylon stores rather than through the internal-fuel slider.
- Wait for servicing to finish. Do not taxi, change aircraft slots or close the panel before the completion message appears.
Hot refuelling with the engines running works in many modules, but not under every aircraft, mission or server configuration. If the crew remains silent, shut down, open the canopy and try again. Our guide to DCS controls and basic operation explains how to check communication and aircraft-specific bindings.
Why won’t the DCS ground crew refuel my aircraft?
Ground refuelling usually fails because the aircraft is outside a service area, communication with the crew is blocked or the mission has restricted local supplies.
| Problem | Likely cause and fix |
|---|---|
| No ground-crew reply | Stop completely, shut down and open the canopy. In modules with an intercom selector, configure it for ground communication or use the appropriate microphone binding. |
| Unable to comply | Move to a friendly parking or servicing position. Enemy, neutral and unsupported locations cannot normally service the aircraft. |
| No service at a FARP | Mission-created FARPs may need the appropriate support vehicles, coalition assignment and available resources. This must be corrected in the mission rather than in your cockpit. |
| Fuel remains unchanged | Confirm the request, remain stationary and allow time for transfer. A mission warehouse can also be configured with limited fuel. |
How do I air-to-air refuel from a tanker?
To refuel from a tanker, tune its radio frequency, configure the aircraft’s refuelling system, request fuel through the Tanker radio menu and hold the correct contact position until transfer is complete.
| System | What the receiving pilot does |
|---|---|
| Boom | Open or enable the refuelling receptacle, then hold position using the tanker’s director lights. The tanker’s boom operator makes the final connection. |
| Probe-and-drogue | Extend the refuelling probe and fly it into the basket. The receiving pilot makes and maintains the physical connection. |
The receiver and tanker must use compatible systems. A probe-equipped aircraft cannot connect to a boom-only tanker, and opening the correct cockpit door or extending the probe does not make an incompatible tanker usable.
- Check the mission information. Find the tanker’s callsign, radio frequency, assigned track and any TACAN details provided by the mission.
- Tune the correct radio. With realistic communications, use the specified frequency, modulation and radio-specific push-to-talk control. The general communications key may not transmit through the required airborne radio.
- Configure the receiver. Extend the probe or open the receptacle and set any module-specific air-refuelling switches. Search the aircraft’s control assignments for terms such as
refuel,probeorreceptacleif the cockpit control is not clickable. - Join behind the tanker. Match its speed and settle into the observation or pre-contact position without crossing close to its wings or tail.
- Request refuelling. Use the communications menu’s Tanker section to send Intent to Refuel. Once stable in pre-contact, send Ready Pre-contact.
- Wait for clearance. After being cleared, move forward slowly. Insert the probe into the basket, or hold the boom receiver inside the director-light limits while the operator connects.
- Maintain position. Fuel transfer starts automatically after a valid connection. Use small throttle and control inputs, referencing the tanker rather than chasing the basket or boom.
- Disconnect safely. When full, or when instructed, ease aft along the tanker’s centreline before moving away.
Air-to-air refuelling rewards precise pitch, roll and throttle inputs. It is possible with basic controls, but a separate throttle axis helps considerably; our overview of useful DCS controller types explains the practical hardware choices.
Why won’t the tanker transfer fuel?
A tanker will refuse or interrupt refuelling when radio contact, aircraft configuration, pre-contact position or tanker compatibility is wrong.
- No Tanker menu or reply: verify the frequency, modulation, selected radio and push-to-talk binding. The tanker may also have left its station or completed its mission task.
- Return pre-contact: move behind the tanker, match its speed and hold a steady pre-contact position before making the ready call again.
- No physical connection: confirm that the tanker supports your aircraft’s boom or probe-and-drogue system and wait for clearance before advancing.
- Connected but receiving no fuel: check the receptacle, probe and refuelling switches, then establish a stable connection for several seconds. Also confirm that the aircraft is not already full.
- Repeated basket disconnects: reduce closure speed and make smaller corrections. Hold formation on a fixed point of the tanker; staring at the moving basket encourages over-control.