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By Daniel Baxter |
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October 7, 2010 - Airbus Military has obtained certification for the A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport from Spanish military certification authority Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Aerospacial (INTA). This paves the way for first delivery of the aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in the coming weeks.
The A330 MRTT is
now the only certified new-generation tanker and transport being offered
to the world’s air forces. |
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It covers the
design and operation of all the military systems added to the aircraft
in addition to the basic civil design, and especially the hose and
drogue, as well as the all-new Airbus Military designed Aerial Refueling
Boom System (ARBS).
Airbus Military
Managing Director Domingo Ureña said: “I would like to thank all and
everyone who has worked hard on achieving this certification. This is an
enormously gratifying moment for all. It confirms the A330 MRTT has
satisfactorily demonstrated its global military airworthiness and the
maturity of all its systems, and its full readiness to enter service
with its customers. The combination of the proven A330 airframe with the
most advanced, and now certified, refueling systems in the world,
including our ARBS, will transform the conduct of aerial refueling
operations, while also providing full transport capability.” Airbus Military conducted more than 280 A330 MRTT flights and nearly 170 more on an A310 demonstrator to obtain the certification, and performed nearly 1,600 wet and dry contacts with receiver aircraft. Additionally more than 600 contacts were made with the A330 MRTT acting as receiver. Altogether more than one million pounds (450 tons) of fuel were transferred. Aircraft to which the A330 MRTT has now transferred fuel include F-16 and F-18 fighters, the E-3 AWACS with its large radome, and another A330 MRTT in a process known as buddy-buddy refueling. |
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Airbus Military
will deliver two MRTTs to the RAAF before the end of the year. The
aircraft, equipped with two underwing hose-and-drogue refueling pods and
the Aerial Refueling Boom System (ARBS), will be operated by 33 Squadron
at RAAF Amberley. They can also carry 270 passengers in a two-class
configuration.
The Airbus
Military A330 MRTT is the most advanced and most cost-effective
tanker/transport aircraft flying today. The large 111 tons / 245,000 lb
basic fuel capacity of the successful A330-200 airliner, from which it
is derived, enables the A330 MRTT to excel in Air-to-Air Refueling
missions without the need for any additional fuel tank The A330 MRTT is
offered with a choice of proven air refueling systems including an
advanced Airbus Military Aerial Refueling Boom System, and/or a pair of
under-wing hose and drogue pods, and/or a fuselage refueling unit.
Thanks to its true
wide-body fuselage, the A330 MRTT can also be used as a pure transport
aircraft able to carry up to 300 troops, or a payload of up to 45 tonnes/99,000
lb. It can also easily be converted to accommodate up to 130 stretchers
for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC). In summary the A330 MRTT is the most
efficient aircraft of its kind. |
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