Ares:
FSTA Dry Run
irbus Military has completed initial trials of the fuselage refueling unit for the RAF's Future Strategic Transport Aircraft. The FSU is the certline hose-and-droge refueling system.
The dry contacts were made using a Spanish air force EF-18, since FSTA's development is taking place in Spain.
Even if not intentionally, using a Spanish air force fighter is somewhat symbolic since the FSTA fleet will likely be spending a good part of its time refueling non-RAF aircraft, given the U.K.'s fighter inventory is in sharp decline even as the number of FSTAs being acquired under the Air Tanker fee-for-service arrangement remains constant at 14 aircraft.
The test flight Dec. 13 lasted 160 minutes, and covered an operating envelop of 8,000-35,000 ft. altitude and speeds of 180-325 knots, the manufacturer says.
The FRU can provide a higher fuel flow-rate than the underwing hose-and-drogue system. Half the fleet will be equipped with the FRU.