F-35C: Carrier-Variant Navy & Marine Stealth Jets Refuel Mid-Air

U.S. Navy and Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II carrier-variant stealth fighters conduct aerial refueling using the probe-and-drogue method, extending a retractable refueling probe to connect with a trailing drogue basket. Unlike the U.S. Air Force's F-35A, which uses a boom refueling system, the Navy and Marine Corps rely on probe-and-drogue — the same method used by tanker aircraft like the KC-130J and Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets configured for buddy refueling.