The A330 MRTT is the only new-generation Multi Role Tanker Transport
aircraft flying, and fully certified today, after having demonstrated
its capability during an extensive Flight Test campaign. Following a
first delivery in early June, it is due to begin operations with the
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in early Fall. The A330 MRTT uniquely
offers military strategic air transport as well as air-to-air refuelling
capabilities.
The A330 MRTT is the most capable Tanker/ Transporter currently
available. It is the only aircraft able to perform simultaneously three
different types of missions: Aerial Refuelling (Tanker role), passenger and/or freight transport, and/or medical evacuation (MEDEVAC).
Also, its tank capacity is sufficient to supply the required fuel
quantities without the need for any additional reservoirs, nor major
structural modifications and it is able to carry more passengers and
more freight than any of its competitors.
A sound basis
The A330 MRTT is based on the latest medium- to long-range, twin-aisle,
twin engine commercial aircraft of the Airbus fly-by-wire family, the
A330. More than 1,100 of these have been sold to nearly 90 customers and
more than 800 are operated all around the globe, ensuring easy support
and many years of commercial life ahead.
Able to carry up to 111 tonnes / 245,000 lb of fuel in its wings, the
basic fuel capacity of the successful A330-200 airliner, from which it
is derived, enables the A330 MRTT to excel in Air-to-Air Refuelling missions and
refuel any kind of receiver, without the need for any additional fuel
tank, hereby avoiding any reduction in its ability to carry passengers
or cargo.
Thanks to its true wide-body fuselage, the A330 MRTT offers a great
variety of configurations. It can be used as a pure transport aircraft
able to carry up to 300 troops, or a payload of up to 45 tonnes/99,000
lb. It can also easily be converted to accommodate up to 130 stretchers
for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions.
Air-to-air refuelling
The A330-200 wing is large enough to hold all the fuel needed (111
tonnes / 245,000 lb) to make the A330 MRTT a high performing tanker able
to refuel any kind of receiver, without requiring any additional fuel
tanks and so avoiding any reduction in its ability to carry passengers
or cargo. To refuel receptacle-equipped aircraft such as the F-16
Fighting Falcon, F-35A Lightning II, or even the A330 MRTT itself (when
fitted with an UARRSI), the A330 MRTT is provided with the advanced
Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS), the only new
generation and fully operational boom which allows the fastest fuel
transfer.
To refuel probe-equipped receivers such as Eurofighter or Tornado, the
A330 MRTT is fitted with two Cobham 905E under-wing hose and drogue
pods.
Large probe-equipped aircraft such as the A400M or C295, can be refuelled via the Cobham 805E Fuselage Refuelling Unit (FRU).
Those Air to Air Refuelling (AAR) systems are controlled from an
advanced Fuel Operator Console that is positioned in the cockpit and
features an Enhanced Video monitoring System to perform day and night
refuelling.
The A330 MRTT can also be used on towline mission, whereby it can be on
station at about 1,000 nm / 1,600km from its base for some four hours 30
minutes, with the capability to provide 50 tonnes / 110,000 lb of fuel
for needing receivers. Or it can provide 60 tonnes / 132,000 lb of fuel
while remaining on station for five hours at 500 nm / 930 km from base.
It enables, for examples, four Eurofighters to fly 3,600 nm / 6,700 km
by refuelling them en-route, or, when carrying 20 tonnes / 44,100 lb of
payload, to deploy four fighters a distance of 2,800 nm / 5,200km. This
exceeds by far what any other current tanker can offer. It is therefore
an unmatchable force multiplier, enhancing significantly the range or
endurance of any fighter.
Air transport capabilities
With its true widebody fuselage, the A330 MRTT is ideal to carry any
kind of military or humanitarian payload on strategic missions.
Furnished with an attractively modern design, the cabin is conceived to
ensure optimum seating configurations in every class, maximising both
capacity and comfort. These features enable a complete range of
configurations, from pure troop transport to the complex customization required for VIP guests.
For example, it can accommodate 253 seats in a three-class
configuration, through to 270 passengers in two classes, or some 300 in a
single class layout.
The A330 MRTT is also designed to carry a payload of up to 45 tonnes /
99,000 lb. Thanks to its optimised fuselage cross section, the cargo
can conveniently be carried under-floor in any of the standard
containers and pallets, ranging from the LD1 to LD3 and LD6, as well as
the standard 88x108 inch 463-L NATO military pallets, which can be
loaded onto the aircraft through a proven semi-automatic cargo loading
system. Some of the cargo can also be carried as non-palletised “bulk”.
The main deck cargo compartment can also be used for cargo, as required,
when the aircraft is specified as a freighter. In this instance the
main deck is fitted with a large upper deck cargo door and cargo loading
devices in the main deck floor. This allows the A330 MRTT to carry up
to 26 88x108 inch 463-L NATO military pallets. Furthermore, the aircraft
can also be configured as a combi, to carry freight in the forward part
of the main deck and passengers in the aft part.
The A330 MRTT is also an outstanding strategic medical and casualty
evacuation (casevac and medevac) aircraft with a widebody cabin capable
of carrying, from prepared airfields, up to 130 stretchers over
intercontinental distances in comfort. In a ‘light medevac’
configuration, medical beds can be installed above designated fold-down
seats. This allows the aircraft to be used as a troop transport on an
outbound relief mission, with medical beds stowed in the lower cargo
compartments, and then rapidly converted for medevac on the return. In
an ‘intensive medevac’ configuration, critical care modules can be
installed to replicate an intensive care unit in the air. The aircraft
could typically carry 28 NATO stretchers, up to six critical care
modules, 20 seats for medical staff, and 100 passenger seats.
Military systems
The A330 MRTT also benefits from the most up-to-date design and
manufacturing techniques, and integrates the most advanced avionics as
well as the proven fly-by-wire control systems which allow total flight
envelope protection (when in normal control law) featured by the basic
A330-200. This means higher reliability as well as lower crew workload,
and enabling concentration on mission execution.
The A330 MRTT is offered with a customised suite of military avionics
and a mission system integrated with civil avionics. A comprehensive
survivability package including a Defensive Aid System (DAS), fuel tank
inerting system and an armoured cockpit are all available.
Representing the state-of-the-art in its category, the A330-200 has a
range of up to 8,000 nm/ 14,800 km, with a maximum speed of Mach 0.86.
It is the primary choice as a platform for a Multi Role Tanker
Transport, offering the best performance at the lowest investment and
costs. It provides the best value for money, with potential for
long-term growth as confirmed by its continuing successes in the market.
Operational history
The A330 MRTT has been ordered by Australia, United Kingdom, United Arab
Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Singapore. Australia was the launch customer
for the A330 MRTT.
- Royal Australian Air Force: 5 in service "Launch Customer"
- Royal Saudi Air Force: 6 on order
- Republic of Singapore Air Force: 6 on order
- United Arab Emirates Air Force: 3 on order, one delivered
- Royal Air Force: ordered a total of 14 aircraft (7 × KC2, 5 × KC3 + 2 fitted for KC3)
Variants
- A330 MRTT: an Airbus A330-200 converted by Airbus Military for air-refuelling duties.
- KC-30A: Australian designation for an A330 MRTT with two under-wing refuelling pods and an Aerial Refuelling Boom System.
- KC-45A: United States Air Force designation for an A330 MRTT with two under-wing refuelling pods and an Aerial Refuelling Boom System, order cancelled.
- Voyager KC2: Royal Air Force designation for an A330 MRTT with two under-wing pods only.
- Voyager KC3: Royal Air Force designation for an A330 MRTT with two under-wing pods and a fuselage refuelling unit.
Specifications
General characteristics:
- Crew: 3 (2 pilots, 1 AAR operator)
- Capacity: 291 passengers and 8 military pallets + 1LD6 container + 1 LD3 container (lower deck cargo compartments)
Dimensions:
- Length: 58.80 m
- Height: 17.4 m
- Wingspan: 60.3 m
- Wing area: 362 m2
- Main deck lenght: 41 m
- Main deck height: 2.45 m
- Main deck maximum width: 5.30 m
- Main deck maximum useable volume: 335 m3
- Cargo compartment length:
- forward: 11.8 m
- aft: 10.2 m
- bulk: 4 m - Cargo compartment height:
- forward: 1.7 m
- aft: 1.65 m
- bulk: 1.8 m - Cargo compartment width:
- forward: 4.15 m
- aft: 4.15 m
- bulk: 3.8 m - Cargo compartment volume: 120 m3
Weights:
- Maximum Take-off Weight: 233.000 kg
- Maximum Landing Weight: 182.000 kg
- Internal Fuel Weight: 111.000 kg
- Maximum Payload: 45.000 kg
Engine (x2):
- General Electric CF6-80E1A3: 72.000 lbf / 320 kN
- Pratt and Whitney PW 4168A: 68.000 lbf / 302 kN
- Rolls-Royce Trent 772B: 71.000 lbf / 316 kN
Performance:
- Maximum Operating Altitude (refuelling): 35.000 ft / 10.700 m
- Maximum Cruise Speed (TAS): Mach 0.86 / 550 kt
- Cruise Speed Range: 0.82-0.86 M
Range:
- Range with maximum payload (45 000 kg - 99 000 lb): 3800 nm / 7000 km
- Range with 30.000 kg (66 000 lb) payload: 5500 nm / 10.200 km
- Range with 20 000 kg (44 000 lb) payload: 6500 nm / 12.000 km
- Maximum Range (Ferry): 8000 nm / 14.800 km
Air-to-air refuelling:
- Towline, 60 000 kg (132 300 lb), 5 hours on station: 500 nm / 930 km
- Towline, 50 000 kg (110 230 lb), 4.5 hours on station: 1000 nm / 1850 km
- Deployment, 4 fighters, 50 personnel and 12 000 kg (26 400 lb) payload: 2800 nm / 5200 km
- Deployment, 4 fighters: 3600 nm / 6700 km
Source:
http://www.airbusmilitary.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A330_MRTT
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