A330 MRTT Automatic Refueling To Go Live in 2021 | Aviation International News

A330 MRTT Automatic Refueling To Go Live in 2021

Some 41 of 60 Airbus A330 MRTTs ordered by 13 nations are now in service. Automatic refueling tests were carried out using an Australian MRTT.

New boom control laws were introduced to solve workload issues encountered when refueling F-15 Eagles with the Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport.

By David Donald • Contributor - UK

November 16, 2019

Airbus Defence and Space’s A330 MRTT (multi-role tanker transport) will become capable of performing automatic air-to-air refueling (A3R) in 2021, the maker says. Airbus has already conducted tests of the system using a company-owned A310 MRTT testbed, beginning on March 21, 2017, when trials were conducted with an F-16 receiver, including contacts at night and in adverse light conditions. In June 2018 the system was tested with a large receiver—an A330— for the first time.

Tests with a customer are due next year, leading to certification and service entry in 2021. The customer has not been revealed, but it was the Royal Australian Air Force that provided a KC-30A for the June 2018 trials.

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