FIRST FLIGHT OF RAAF’S NEW GENERATION TANKER

[FlyNavy]

FIRST FLIGHT OF RAAF’S NEW GENERATION TANKER

I am pleased to announce the successful maiden flight of the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) new generation A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft (MRTT).

The flight took place in Madrid, Spain and marks the end of the first phase of modifications to install military systems into the commercial A330 aircraft.

In December 2004, we signed a contract with Spanish company European Aeronautic Defence and Space Construcciones Aeronauticas SA (EADS CASA) to provide five new generation air-to-air refuelling aircraft.

The basic Airbus A330 aircraft will have a range of military modifications installed including two underwing aerial refuelling pods, a fuselage mounted refuelling boom, military communications, data link, navigation, identification, mission planning and electronic warfare self-protection equipment.

Our new A330 MRTT, to be known as the KC-30B in RAAF service, is one of the key enabling capabilities designed to maintain Australia’s air combat capability through the transition to Joint Strike Fighter, Wedgetail and beyond. We are taking on a managed risk as lead customer to develop and test the new advanced refuelling boom system and integrated military mission systems to ensure that we have the most capable tanker aircraft in time to replace the ageing Boeing 707.

The first aircraft will be converted into the tanker in two phases by EADS CASA and the remainder of the aircraft will be converted by Qantas in Australia. In addition QANTAS will provide the through-life support for the aircraft under an initial five year contract signed in February this year.

The first flight of the aircraft following completion of structural modifications is a significant milestone and provides confidence that EADS CASA is progressing to schedule for entry into operational service of the new tankers by the end of 2009.

www.adf-serials.com/invboard/index.php?showtopic=641

[flyjoe180]

Any pictures yet? Hopefully they have selected more powerful engines.

[FlyNavy]

Rollout Pics:
www.skycontrol.net/military-aviation/roll-out-of-eads%E2%80%99-a330-mrtt-multi-role-tanker-transport/

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www.eads.net/1024/en/pressdb/pressdb/Military%20Transport%20Aircraft/20070612_mtad_mrtt-roll-out.html
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www.eadsnorthamerica.com/1024/en/breaking_news/2006%20Press%20Releases/2006_06_05_a330_raaf.html

The First A330 Multi-Role Tanker/Transport Aircraft Platform Delivered for Military ModificationFirst aircraft of five ordered by the Royal Australian Air Force and will feature the fly-by-wire Air Refueling Boom System Madrid, Spain , June 05, 2006
The initial A330 aircraft to be converted into a multi-role tanker/transport (MRTT) was delivered to the final outfitting facility, where the Royal Australian Air Force aircraft will receive mission equipment that includes a state-of-the-art centerline Air Refueling Boom System (ARBS) and two under-wing hose and drogue pods.

This milestone marks another step in the development of the world's most advanced aerial tanker - which has been chosen by both Australia and the United Kingdom, and is the primary aircraft platform of the KC-30 being offered by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Air Force's tanker fleet recapitalization.

Delivery of the first A330 MRTT Australian platform was made at EADS CASA's Getafe, Spain facility in the presence of Air Vice-Marshall Clive Rossiter, the head of the Australian Defence Materiel Organisation's Aerospace Systems Division. He was joined at the event by Squadron Leader Ewan Ward, the Royal Australian Air Force's Air Refueling Project Director; Susan Tanner, Australia's Ambassador to Spain; and representatives from Northrop Grumman, EADS CASA and EADS North America.

"This aircraft platform delivery reinforces the fact that EADS' newest next generation tanker is well underway and moving forward in production," said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., Chairman and CEO of EADS North America. "Today’s milestone follows recent in-flight evaluations of the A330 MRTT's advanced fly-by-wire refueling boom, a key element of Northrop Grumman's KC-30 offering to the U.S. Air Force as a KC-135 replacement."

The first A330 MRTT aircraft is painted in the Royal Australian Air Force's colours, and has completed an initial series of flight tests in April, including flying in the receiver position behind a French Air Force C-135FR tanker. This test demonstrated the A330 MRTT's flight capability to be refueled by another tanker, using an upper fuselage-mounted receptacle.

Australia is acquiring five A330 MRTTs to provide refueling services for the country's F/A-18s, F-111s and Joint Strike Fighters, as well as its AWACS airborne warning and control aircraft. The A330 MRTT's combination of an advanced flying boom and hose/drogue refueling systems - a capability shared by the KC-30 - ensures the Royal Australian Air Force will be able to support its own military aircraft, and contribute to joint operations with the ability to refuel all types of Coalition aircraft.

The Australian A330 MRTT equipment package includes a hospital bed kit for emergency medical evacuations, and the aircraft also is to be fitted with an electronic warfare self-protection suite for protection against surface-to-air missiles. It has a significant strategic airlift capability, with the capability of carrying up to 272 passengers and a combination of commercial and military cargo pallets.

Deliveries of A330 MRTTs to the Royal Australian Air Force are scheduled to begin in 2008, with the aircraft entering operational service in 2009 following operational test and evaluation.

EADS has previously produced and delivered A310 multi-role tanker/transport aircraft to the armed forces of Germany and Canada.

More information on EADS tanker programs can be found at www.eads.net and on the Northrop Grumman KC-30 program at www.kc-30.com.

[beagle]

They could have waited till they had got the A330 freighter up and running and certified, then used that airframe as the tanker but,
a, that would have put their new tankers back another few years, and
b, being of a wider body than out 757's they do have the advantage of underbelly pallet capability.

I thought that maybe we should have gone with some B767-200's, which would have given us the combi use by the fact they have bigger underbelly freight capacity than current 757's, without having to cut back on upper deck passenger space.

[FlyNavy]

www.adf-serials.com/invboard/index.php?showtopic=641

Photo on this page - scroll down the page to see it.

[Calum]

another pic

www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1229147&r=y