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.

FMI: www.northropgrumman.com/kc30/