Fuel Simultaneously Transferred To Two Fighter Aircraft

The A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (A330 MRTT) has performed the first simultaneous fuel transfer with its all-digital hose-and-drogue system, fueling two fighter aircraft at the same time.

The hose-and-drogue fuel transfers occurred on November 18 during a flight test sortie that utilized both the A330 MRTT’s left and right under-wing pods. In total, the A330 MRTT conducted 11 simultaneous airborne refueling contacts with two NATO F/A-18 fighters and transferred more than 25,000 lbs of fuel.

The latest refueling milestone was performed by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) A330 MRTT, and follows recent daytime and nighttime refueling operations utilizing the aircraft’s advanced Aerial Refueling Boom System (ARBS), as well as previous fuel transfers using the wing-mounted hose-and-drogue refueling systems. As a result, both refueling systems on the A330 MRTT have now been demonstrated through flight tests, confirming the aircraft’s maturity in preparation for the startup of deliveries to international customers beginning in 2010.

“Operational flexibility and demonstrated robust mission capability are essential requirements for a military refueling aircraft,” said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., Chairman of EADS North America. “This latest program success is further evidence that the A330 MRTT is ready to meet the demanding operational requirements of next-generation military tankers, including those of the U.S. Air Force as part of the Northrop Grumman KC-45 team.”

The RAAF A330 MRTT is nearly identical in configuration to the Northrop Grumman KC-45 Tanker, and uses the same refueling systems. As with the KC-45, Australia's A330 MRTT incorporates the Airbus Military state-of-the-art ARBS with all-electric, fly-by-wire controls, plus the two digital hose-and-drogue pods under the wings. The ARBS can deliver fuel at 1,200 gallons per minute. This mix of boom and pod refueling technologies ensures the A330 MRTT and KC-45 can rapidly and safely transfer fuel to all types of receiver aircraft during a single mission without reconfiguration. In addition, the wing-mounted pods allow for simultaneous multi-point refueling. The KC-45 also will include a centerline hose-and-drogue fuselage refueling unit.

FMI: www.eads-na.com