France orders A-330 based MRTT

[sandiego89]

France orders 12 Airbus MRTTs - IHS Jane's 360

Announced order of 12 MRTT's today. Seems like a good fit.

Is this where we start the debate that this was the "wrong" tanker chosen only for political/jobs reasons....

[KenV]

Personally, I think the A330MRTT would be a better fit for France than either the KC-767 or the KC-46 (no, they are not the same.)

Did France order the optional cargo door?

[BBadanov]

This contract had been under discussion for many, many years.
About 5 years ago the French were about to order 15.

[Trackmaster]

Will it be fitted with a boom?

[dmussen]

The Boom.

Have the Ausies been cleared to use the boom yet?

[O-P]

Why would it need a boom?

Will it have RR engines? Why did I even ask!!

[GreenKnight121]

Originally Posted by O-P

Why would it need a boom?

Will it have RR engines? Why did I even ask!!

Perhaps because they are to replace France's 11 C-135FRs and 3 KC-135Rs (all 14 with both hose and boom).

Starting in 2009 the AdlA began modernizing the avionics in the C-135FRs (all of which had been "redelivered" by 2013) and added the KC-135Rs in June 2013 (the first, redesignated KC-135RG, was redelivered in August 2014).

[vascodegama]

The boom would be to allow refuelling of the E3F (admittedly it has both systems) while still allowing the use of the already produced config . It could even be that the French are thinking about inter-operability with other nations' receivers. You never know they might even refuel our Airseekers!

[melmothtw]

Perhaps because they are to replace France's 11 C-135FRs and 3 KC-135Rs (all 14 with both hose and boom).

The booms on the French KC-135s are fitted with a basket, as they only use hose-and-probe. For the MRTT, a Fuselage Refuelling Unit would be more relevant to their needs than a boom

[Just This Once...]

Mel, you are mistaken. The E-3F uses boom refuelling as its prime method. Come to think of it it has been a long time since I saw an E-3F fitted with a probe.

[melmothtw]

Come to think of it it has been a long time since I saw an E-3F fitted with a probe.

From May, over Mali....



edited to add: Having re-read your post JTO, I think we may be at cross-purposes. I meant hose-and-probe in relation to tanking rather than receiving...

[Just This Once...]

No, I think you are still mistaken.

French KC vs French E-3F, taken over Iraq in recent days:

http://globalaviationreport.files.wo..._011.jpg?w=990

[melmothtw]

Ah, I see JTO - we were at double cross purposes. My understanding was that the USAF now took care of the FAF's boom-receptacle receiving requirements as they no longer have any qualified boom operators. Your pic, however, tells me I may have been fed some duff gen.

[Reinhardt]

and by doing so France is following UK, Australia, UAE, Singapour, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and India.


Quite a good business for Airbus Military !

[Trackmaster]

And Australia is expected to shortly announce an order for an additional two aircraft.
As to my question about a boom...it was a straight forward inquiry. No hidden meaning or snide references.

[melmothtw]

To answer your question Trackmaster, the French MRTTs will be equipped with a boom.

[KenV]

To answer your question Trackmaster, the French MRTTs will be equipped with a boom.

How about a cargo door? Did France excercise the cargo door option?

[melmothtw]

They have exercised the cargo door option, but only on some of them initially. Budget issues and a need to field them quickly means two tranches will be delivered - the first will be the aircraft as is (boom, pods, etc), and the second to be delivered later will have the cargo door and datalinks. The early aircraft will later be retrofitted with all of the mods.

[KenV]

They have exercised the cargo door option, but only on some of them initially. Budget issues and a need to field them quickly means two tranches will be delivered - the first will be the aircraft as is (boom, pods, etc), and the second to be delivered later will have the cargo door and datalinks. The early aircraft will later be retrofitted with all of the mods.

That explains a lot. So the MRTT's cargo door is not a "build to order" option, but a pre-engineered post-build modification option. That approach was a significant handicap in the Northrop Grumman KC-30/45 offer. Airbus still offers the -200F freighter, so I still don't get why they do not offer an MRTT based on the freighter rather than the passenger version. As France's order shows, there's definitely a market for it.

[airsound]

Clarification from the horse's mouth (Airbus Defence and Space press release dated 20 nov 2014.)

In French service the A330 MRTT will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, be equipped with a combination of the Airbus Refuelling Boom System and underwing hose-and-drogue refuelling pods, and can be configured in a variety of layouts carrying up to 271 passengers as well as medevac arrangements including the French MORPHEE intensive care module carrying up to ten patients as well as 88 passengers.

Also, the French Minister of Defence announced that it would be called the “Airbus A330 Phoenix".