A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT)

Recent conflicts have demonstrated the ever increasing need for a new generation of modern tankers that are more capable and more versatile. Aging tanker fleets no longer satisfy present requirements due to their lack of fuel capacity, range, payload and mission endurance, and their obsolescence of avionic systems and high maintenance costs.

Maintaining an adequate air refuelling capability is critical to the success of any military intervention. However, tankers now need to be able to perform more than their dedicated refuelling operations, and need role flexibility to increase the scope of their missions.

The A330 MRTT is a modern adaptable platform that can carry more passengers and more freight than any competitors while performing its air-to-air refuelling mission.

Tanker/ Transport missions can be divided into three main categories: combat air patrol support, military aircraft deployment and airlift support.

These missions require the following capabilities:

•Air-to-air refuelling
•Cargo transport
•Passenger/troop transport
•Medical evacuation
•Mission planning
•Tactical communications and military navigation

Airbus Military, a business unit of Airbus is responsible for all military transport aircraft derivatives, including the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT). Airbus is an EADS company. Airbus Military has been working for nearly ten years on the development of air-to-air refuelling solutions based on the wide body and long range Airbus families (A310/A330) offering quality, versatile, low risk and cost-effective products. Airbus Military incorporates the full range of skills required to design, develop, manufacture, test, certify and support state-of-the-art tanker kits installed and integrated in Airbus platforms, to match the most demanding customer requirements.

In 2000, Canada and Germany respectively contracted two and four 310 MRTTs. The first CC-150 Polaris (Canadian designation) has successfully been delivered in 2004 to the 8 Wings 437 Transport Squadron Husky based at CFB Trenton.

The German aircraft have been operating since 2004 within the 1 Staffel based at Köln-Wahn. Both countries have been intensively involving their A310 MRTTs in military operations e.g. Afghanistan or relief missions e.g. Pakistan

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Airbus Military
• Tanker