Drogues Extended, Close Proximity Tests Conducted
Anything Boeing's bird can do... ours can do better. That was
the message from Northrop Grumman on Monday, as the company
announced it successfully completed several milestones recently in
its quest to win a lucrative US Air Force contract.
During a fast-paced flight test program, the KC-30 Tanker's
all-digital FRL 905E-series refueling pods deployed their hose and
drogues to multiple lengths, showing "rock solid" stability at a
full range of speeds and altitudes. The tanker's fly-by-wire Aerial
Refueling Boom System (ARBS) also demonstrated its ability to
service large transports and multi-mission platforms, validating
the ARBS' compatibility with the wide range of refueling-capable
aircraft in the US Air Force inventory.
"Successful completion of these critical fuel system test points
-- on schedule -- confirms the KC-30 Tanker's readiness to fulfill
all of the US Air Force's requirements for its next-generation
tanker," said John Young, Chief Executive Officer of EADS North
America Tankers, LLC. "Completion of these key program milestones
also reflects our commitment to deliver the KC-30 Tanker to our
teammate Northrop Grumman."
The hose and drogue validation utilized the Royal Australian Air
Force's first A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), which is
based on the same airframe as the EADS-sourced KC-30 Tanker, and is
equipped with the same multi-point refueling system proposed for
the US Air Force. An F/A-18 combat aircraft made operational-type
approaches behind the extended hoses and drogues as they trailed
from the pods under the A330 MRTT's left and right wings -- with
the fighter moving into very close proximity at the pre-contact
position.
The hoses and drogues were extended at lengths of 75 feet, 82
feet and 90 feet during multiple deployments at altitudes from
10,000 ft. to FL350, and at airspeeds ranging from 180 to 300
knots. These deployments were made as the A330 MRTT flew in both
level flight and while banking, reflecting typical operational
profiles during refueling missions.
In all scenarios, the Cobham/Sargent Fletcher-built FRL
905E-series hose and drogue system exhibited total and complete
stability, according to Northrop, which is critical for successful
refueling of probe-equipped receiver aircraft.
During the same flight, the Royal Australian Air Force's A330
MRTT joined up in flight with the A310 ARBS equipped Demonstrator
aircraft fitted with EADS' ARBS. The ARBS was extended to various
points throughout the refueling envelope as the A330 MRTT moved to
within six inches of the all-electric fly-by-wire boom. These close
proximity tests confirmed the boom system's compatibility with
large receiver aircraft, and followed the ARBS' recent in-flight
contacts with an F-16 combat aircraft.
As ANN has reported
extensively, the KC-30 is locked in a fierce
competition against Boeing's KC-767 for the US Air Force KC-X
tanker contract, which calls for 179 new aircraft to replace the
oldest KC-135s in the service's current fleet.