Ref post ±116 above. Interesting is the deletion of the centre line drogue and, presumably, a probe above the cockpit.
French AF To Take 2 MRTT Versions
PARIS — The French Air Force has agreed to take two versions of the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft due to be ordered soon, with the first type to be equipped with off-the-shelf avionics and refueling system, Chief of Staff Gen. Denis Mercier said Feb. 20.
Under the defense and security white paper, France has been cleared to order 12 of the tankers built by Airbus Defense and Security to replace an aging 14-strong fleet of C-135 FR jets. The service had asked for a cargo door, a specific refueling rig and a satcom datalink, but a lack of funds and a need for early delivery led to an order of two versions of the MRTT aircraft.
“We made a choice for budgetary reasons,” Mercier told journalists.
The planes in the first tranche will be equipped with avionics and a central boom and an underwing drogue and hose system already developed, which saves costs and speeds up delivery, he said. Those planes should be delivered as soon as possible, he said.........
Mercier said the service will take a second tranche in the next multiyear budget law. A second MRTT version includes the cargo door and a datalink that allows the plane to receive information from the Rafale fighter, which carries many sensors, and transfer it by satellite, he said. The first aircraft type will later be retrofitted, he said........
The service had asked for a central drogue and hose to be added to the boom system so that its version could be refueled in flight. Those features have been canceled...........
Under the 2014-19 multiyear budget law, two MRTT units are to be ordered, with the others to follow. With an expected first order for the MRTT this year, “I will break open the champagne I have kept just for that,” Mercier said.