Will Be Converted To Tanker

Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Defense Procurement, Greg Combet, announced Friday the first Airbus A330 recently arrived in Australia for conversion to a KC-30B Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) under Project Air 5402.

"This aircraft, which is the first of four Airbus A330s to be modified in Australia, arrived this week at the Qantas Australian Conversion Center at Brisbane Airport after departing the Airbus facility in Toulouse, France, earlier this week," said Combet.

An induction ceremony involving the prime contractor, EADS CASA, and Qantas Defense Services was held to mark the occasion. Also present were representatives of State Government, Defense Materiel Organisation, and senior Royal Australian Air Force leadership including the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal, Geoff Shepherd, AO.

"Project AIR 5402 will replace the RAAF's Boeing 707 and enhance the air-to-air refuelling capability of the Australian Defense Force," Combet said. "Under the project, five new-generation KC-30B MRTTs capable of refuelling current and future aircraft are to be supplied."

Combet noted the KC-30B offers significant strategic airlift capability -- carrying a fuel load of up to 111 tonnes, along with 270 passengers, and a combination of commercial and military cargo pallets in its cargo hold.

As ANN has reported, in February the KC-30B MRTT won a US Air Force competition to supply the service with its next-generation aerial tanker. That decision is now under review by the Government Accountability Office, after Boeing protested awarding the bid to the renamed KC-45A.

FMI: www.minister.Defense.gov.au/index.htm, www.airbus.com