Next Up -- Inflight Contacts, Fuel Transfers

Northrop Grumman tells ANN the KC-30 Tanker's fly-by-wire boom has completed more than 130 hours of evaluations during 50 flights, demonstrating what the company says is the maturity of the world's most advanced military aerial refueling system.

Integrated on an A310 test-bed aircraft, the Aerial Refueling Boom System (ARBS) being developed by Northrop Grumman's teammate EADS has been tested throughout the full operating envelope. A team led by Northrop Grumman and EADS is offering the A330-based KC-30 tanker, in the US Air Force's KC-X competition.

"Our team and our tanker offers the US Air Force the lowest amount of risk with the greatest amount of capability," said Paul Meyer, Northrop Grumman's vice president and general manager of the KC-30 Tanker program. "By leveraging the best technology available in a global marketplace -- like this boom system -- we're ready to provide proven capabilities now."

Northrop also says ground-based tests with the ARBS have validated its fuel offload capability, as well as the system's resistance to the buildup of electrostatic charge. The A310 demonstrator aircraft is now ready for its next phase of ARBS flight tests, which will involve in-flight contacts and airborne fuel transfers with a variety of receiver aircraft.

The ARBS delivers a maximum nominal fuel flow rate of 1,200 gallons per minute. It features an automatic load alleviation system that provides a large refueling envelope and enhanced controllability, which greatly aid the boom operator and the receiving aircraft's pilot during refueling operations. The boom's all-electric design significantly reduces traditional failure rates and subsequent down time.

Northrop Grumman's KC-30 Tanker is fitted with a centerline-mounted ARBS and hose and drogue unit, along with two underwing hose and drogue refueling pods. This enables the KC-30 Tanker to refuel a full range of US and NATO military aircraft.

The KC-30's hose and drogue system is already flying on US Air Force, German Air Force, and Canadian Air Force tankers.

The KC-30 Tanker aircraft is based on the EADS A330 Multi-role Tanker Transport, which was selected to support the air forces of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. The first Australian Air Force KC-30B is executing a rigorous flight test program with all refueling systems installed on the aircraft.

FMI: www.eads.com, www.northropgrumman.com