Here's how fighter jets refuel while bombing ISIS

The ability to extend the flying range of the fighter jets is crucial.

THE US-LED coalition has dropped thousands of bombs on ISIS-held areas in Syria and Iraq this year.

In doing so, the ability to extend the flying range of the fighter jets is crucial.

To that, the force uses 50-year-old KC-135 Stratotankers to refuel while flying. The US Air Force recently released this series of photos taken during different missions to show how the refueling is carried out.

The shots show U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Hornets, U.S. Air Force C-17s, F-15E Strike Eagles and E-3A Sentry, as well as French Air Force Rafales being refueled.

161017-F-MY676-0623 A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker over Iraq. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Douglas Ellis / Released U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Douglas Ellis / Released / Released

161017-F-MY676-0676 Two U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets fly in formation after receiving fuel. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Douglas Ellis / Released U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Douglas Ellis / Released / Released

161017-F-MY676-0296 A French air force Rafale receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker over Iraq. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Douglas Ellis / Released U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Douglas Ellis / Released / Released

161017-F-MY676-0588 A French air force Rafale approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker over Iraq. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Douglas Ellis / Released U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Douglas Ellis / Released / Released

340th EARS Refueling the Fight A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet receives fuel. Tech. Sgt. Larry Reid Jr. Tech. Sgt. Larry Reid Jr.

340th EARS extends aerial mission A C-17 Globemaster III approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker. Staff Sgt. Douglas Ellis Staff Sgt. Douglas Ellis

Read: US-led coalition expresses regret after it may have killed dozens of Syrian soldiers in airstrikes

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