One of the more common frequencies that are heard in the 225-400 MHz aero band are the U.S. Air Force (USAF) aerial refueling (AR) frequencies. I have worked with original Department of Defense (DoD) docs and monitoring to update and post the latest AR frequencies for monitors here in the southeast United States.
The are two types of aerial refueling routes: tracks and anchors.
Aerial refueling tracks are established to accommodate refueling operations along a prescribed route. An aerial refueling track consists of an Air Refueling Initiation Point (ARIP), Air Refueling Control Point (ARCP), and an exit point. Navigation check points between the ARCP and exit point are specified, as required, to facilitate navigation along the route. It also includes the tanker orbit pattern at the ARCP, and the altitude block(s) assigned for the track.
The standard anchor area consists of one or more entry points, an ARIP, anchor point, anchor pattern turn points, one or more exit points, and the designated refueling altitude block(s). The standard aerial refueling anchor pattern consists of a left-hand race track orbit with legs at least 50 NM in length. The legs will normally be separated by at least 20 NM. The orientation of the pattern is determined based on the inbound course to the anchor point. Four turn points are designated to describe the anchor pattern.
Each track/anchor has a scheduling unit. That scheduling unit holds clues who is the primary user of the AR routes they control whether it is tankers or receivers. For instance, the 437OSS based at Charleston controls three AR routes and those routes are used by their C-17 aircraft. Various tanker units would support those aircraft when refueling. Any other units wanting to use their routes would have to schedule those activities with the scheduling agency.
The map below shows the various tracks and anchors used by DoD in the southeast United States.
Track/
Anchor Primary/Secondary-- Scheduling Agency -- Assigned ARTCC/Controlling Unit
AR-101 324.600/260.200 -- 2OSS Barksdale AFB -- Memphis ARTCC
AR-103 327.600/260.200 -- 55OSS Offutt AFB -- Houston ARTCC
AR-108 348.900/260.200 -- 2OSS Barksdale AFB -- Houston ARTCC
AR-110 327.600/319.700 -- 509OSS Whiteman AFB -- Kansas City ARTCC
AR-111 348.900/319.700 -- 552OSS Tinker AFB -- Memphis ARTCC
AR-200 235.100/319.700 -- 6OSS MacDill AFB -- Miami ARTCC
AR-202/202A 327.600/343.250 -- 437OSS Charleston AFB -- Jacksonville ARTCC
AR-203 238.900/319.700 -- 2OSS Barksdale AFB -- Memphis ARTCC
AR-207SW/NE 324.600/343.250 -- 437OSS Charleston AFB -- Jacksonville ARTCC
AR-216 276.500/343.250 -- 437OSS Charleston AFB -- Atlanta ARTCC
AR-302 278.750/260.200 -- 1SOG Hurlburt Field -- Houston ARTCC
AR-313/313A 352.600/260.200 -- 97OSS Altus AFB -- Fort Worth ARTCC
AR-315 343.250/236.650 -- 121ARW Rickenbacher IAP -- Indianapolis ARTCC
AR-328 235.100/343.250 -- 134ARW McGhee-Tyson -- Atlanta ARTCC
AR-455 336.100/291.900 -- 552OSS Tinker AFB -- Indianapolis ARTCC
AR-600 348.900/319.700 -- 20OSS Shaw AFB -- Jacksonville ARTCC
AR-601 283.900/319.700 -- 20OSS Shaw AFB -- Jacksonville ARTCC
AR-615 295.400/260.200 -- 1SOG Hurlburt Field -- Houston ARTCC
AR-617 324.600/343.250 -- 23OSS Moody AFB -- Miami ARTCC
AR-618 348.900/343.250 -- 23OSS Moody AFB -- Miami ARTCC
AR-620 238.900/343.250 -- 23OSS Moody AFB -- Miami ARTCC
AR-627 352.600/319.700 -- 23OSS Moody AFB -- Jacksonville ARTCC
AR-633A/B 240.350/343.250 -- 134ARW McGhee-Tyson -- Atlanta ARTCC
AR-636 238.900/319.700 -- 1FW Langley AFB -- Washington ARTCC/Giant Killer
AR-637 291.900/319.700 -- 509OSS Whiteman AFB -- Kansas City ARTCC
AR-638 324.600/343.250 -- 23OSS Moody AFB -- Miami ARTCC
AR-646 238.900/260.200 -- 552OSS Tinker AFB -- Houston ARTCC
AR-655 276.500/343.250 -- 23OSS Moody AFB -- Miami ARTCC
AR-716 283.900/342.550 -- 23OSS Moody AFB -- Miami ARTCC
AR by Frequency List
235.100 AR-200 (P)/AR-328 (P)
236.650 AR-315 (S)
238.900 AR-203 (P)/AR-620 (P)/AR-636 (P)/AR-646 (P)
240.350 AR-633A/B (P)
260.200 AR-101 (S)/AR-103 (S)/AR-108 (S)/AR-302 (S)/AR-313/313A (S)/AR-615 (S)/AR-646 (S)
276.500 AR-216 (P)/AR-655 (P)
278.750 AR-302 (P)
283.900 AR-601 (P)/AR-716 (P)
291.900 AR-455 (S)/AR-637 (P)
295.400 AR-615 (P)
319.700 AR-110 (S)/AR-111 (S)/AR-200 (S)/AR-203 (S)/AR-600 (S)/AR-601(S)/AR-627 (S)/AR-636 (S)/AR-637 (S)
324.600 AR-101 (P)/AR-207SW-NE (P)/AR-617 (P)/AR-638 (P)
327.600 AR-103 (P)/AR-110 (P)/AR-202/202A (P)
336.100 AR-455 (P)
342.550 AR-716 (S)
343.250 AR-202/202A (S)/AR-207SW-NE (S)/AR-216 (S)/AR-315 (P)/AR-328 (S)/AR-617 (S)/AR-618 (S)/AR-620 (S)/AR-633A/B (S)/AR-638 (S)/AR-655 (S)
348.900 AR-108 (P)/AR-111 (P)/AR-600 (P)/AR-618 (P)
352.600 AR-313/313A (P)/AR-627 (P)
I am working on some additional milair frequency lists and will post them here on the MilcomMP as I complete them so check back often.
Good hunting de Chief
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