RAAF A330 MRTT progress
The roundel had me going there...but I doubt I'd have even guessed that!
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KC-30A Refuels AWACS
According to Flight Global, the MRTT has passed fuel to a French Air Force AWAC, the first such refueling to a 'large' aircraft, especially one with such unusual aerodynamics
Nunc est bibendum
I'm looking forward to hearing how it goes with the Wedgetail tucking in behind. It's a pretty big surfboard back there and I wonder whether it may be a bit closer than the E3 given the relative dimensions of the aircraft?!?!
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Seems to handle the surfboard OK, according to this:
Airbus Military A330 MRTT Refuels AWACS - ASDNews - Be the first to know
(February 2, 2010) -- The Airbus Military A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) has passed another key milestone with the refuelling of a Boeing E-3F AWACS airborne early warning aircraft - the first time the A330 MRTT has refuelled another large aircraft.
Demonstrating the stability of this class of aircraft during air-to-air refuelling is an essential exercise to be completed not only to satisfy the certification authorities, but subsequently the operators. The E-3F is considered to be a particularly significant type because of its aerodynamic characteristics due to the large radome mounted on the back of the aircraft. The A330 MRTT passed this trial with flying colours.
The aircraft, operating from Getafe, Madrid performed a series of dry and wet contacts during two sorties with a French Air Force E-3F.
In the first flight, four contacts were performed during a 3hr 55min mission and 12.1 tonnes of fuel was transferred.
In the second flight a total of 17.5 tonnes of fuel was transferred. The flying was conducted at around 20,000ft and 250kt, and the centreline-mounted refuelling boom was used for all the transfers.
The A330 MRTT has now conducted a total of more than 200 wet and dry contacts during the development programme and transferred nearly 100 tonnes of fuel.
Antonio Caramazana, Vice President and Head of Airbus Military Derivatives, said: "This is a significant milestone in the programme. The E-3 AWACS is a challenge because of its aerodynamics characteristics due to the large radome. The AWACS crew reported that the handling of the aircraft was very smooth during the refueling operation. We are delighted with the performance of our A330 MRTT and with our advanced refuelling boom."
Source : Airbus, an EADS N.V. company (Paris: EAD.PA)
Airbus Military A330 MRTT Refuels AWACS - ASDNews - Be the first to know
(February 2, 2010) -- The Airbus Military A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) has passed another key milestone with the refuelling of a Boeing E-3F AWACS airborne early warning aircraft - the first time the A330 MRTT has refuelled another large aircraft.
Demonstrating the stability of this class of aircraft during air-to-air refuelling is an essential exercise to be completed not only to satisfy the certification authorities, but subsequently the operators. The E-3F is considered to be a particularly significant type because of its aerodynamic characteristics due to the large radome mounted on the back of the aircraft. The A330 MRTT passed this trial with flying colours.
The aircraft, operating from Getafe, Madrid performed a series of dry and wet contacts during two sorties with a French Air Force E-3F.
In the first flight, four contacts were performed during a 3hr 55min mission and 12.1 tonnes of fuel was transferred.
In the second flight a total of 17.5 tonnes of fuel was transferred. The flying was conducted at around 20,000ft and 250kt, and the centreline-mounted refuelling boom was used for all the transfers.
The A330 MRTT has now conducted a total of more than 200 wet and dry contacts during the development programme and transferred nearly 100 tonnes of fuel.
Antonio Caramazana, Vice President and Head of Airbus Military Derivatives, said: "This is a significant milestone in the programme. The E-3 AWACS is a challenge because of its aerodynamics characteristics due to the large radome. The AWACS crew reported that the handling of the aircraft was very smooth during the refueling operation. We are delighted with the performance of our A330 MRTT and with our advanced refuelling boom."
Source : Airbus, an EADS N.V. company (Paris: EAD.PA)
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Think you missed KEG's point there Groaner. 
The Weadgetail has a vertical radar array mounted on a 737 aircraft - so it is almost a totally different configuration and likely aerodynamic issues platform to an E3.
The Weadgetail has a vertical radar array mounted on a 737 aircraft - so it is almost a totally different configuration and likely aerodynamic issues platform to an E3.
Thread Starter
Slightly off topic but this outcome was predictable
Northrop Grumman won’t bid on KC-X
KC-45 - out of the running?
The USAF KC-X tanker contest appears to now be a one horse race with the March 8 decision by Northrop Grumman to not bid its Airbus A330 based solution it was partnering with EADS North America for the program.
Northrop Grumman CEO Wes Bush said the company would not submit a bid because the source selection methodology defined in the RFP “clearly favours Boeing’s smaller…tanker.”
“In the previous competition, Northrop Grumman was selected by the Air Force as offering the most capable tanker for the warfighter at the best value for the taxpayer,” he said in a statement. “However, the Northrop Grumman and EADS team is very disappointed that the revised source selection methodology now dramatically favours Boeing’s smaller refuelling tanker. We agree that the fundamental military requirements for the new tanker have not changed since the last competition, but the Department’s new evaluation methodology now clearly favours the smaller tanker.”
The revised source selection is centred around the USAF’s requirement that development risk be shared between the service and industry, and that no additional credit would be available for the A330’s larger offload and greater payload capabilities.
Boeing has announced it will submit a proposal based on the smaller 767-200 airframe but with a new boom, 787 style cockpit displays and other enhancements.
“We continue to believe that Northrop Grumman’s tanker represents the best value for the military and taxpayer – a belief supported by the selection of the A330 tanker design over the Boeing design in the last five consecutive tanker competitions around the globe,” Bush added. “Regrettably, this means that the US Air Force will be operating a less capable tanker than many of our Allies in this vital mission area.”
Some analysts have suggested that EADS North America may go it alone and offer an A330-based solution for KC-X, although with the RFP due to close in early May, the time required to put together a proposal may be too short.
EADS won’t go it alone on KC-X “soap opera”
Northrop Grumman/EADS will not bid their KC-45 (based on the RAAF's KC-30) for KC-X. (Airbus Military)
EADS has confirmed it won’t go it alone in bidding for the USAF’s KC-X tanker replacement after partner Northrop Grumman’s decision not to bid for the program, effectively making the process a one-horse race for Boeing’s 767 based ‘NewGen Tanker’.
EADS CEO Louis Gallois told European media on March 10 that he doesn’t “see any opportunity to come back alone or with others” on the process, while EADS North America CEO Sean O’Keefe later told Aviation Week that his company’s abilities are not sufficiently mature to justify bidding for the US$35bn (A$38.2bn), 179 aircraft deal without its partner. “We’re developing all of those capabilities,” O’Keefe said. “We do not have anything near that in place that would rival that capacity. We could not bring that to the equation alone.”
“Our partners at Northrop Grumman were very concerned with the fixed price contract,” he added. “We were not as concerned.” Under the partnership, EADS subsidiary Airbus would have supplied ‘green’ A330-200 airframes to the joint venture operation in the US state of Alabama where Northrop Grumman would lead on the tanker conversion work, the riskiest part of the process.
Republican Senator John McCain, who stymied Boeing’s bid for a sole source lease-buy deal on KC-X in 2004 after allegations of impropriety involving a former Boeing executive, told US media that he was “not worried about Boeing, the only competitor left for the contract,” but added that he promised he “will monitor it very closely.”
The decision by Northrop Grumman/EADS to not bid on KC-X has also raided trade tensions in Europe, with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and other French, European Union and German officials warning the US that the decision could affect trans-Atlantic trade. The European view appears to be that, such a decision could not have been made without US government knowledge and, perhaps, intervention. “France regrets the decision which raises questions about whether competition rules are working properly,” AP reported French government spokesman Luc Chatel as saying on March 10.
“It is highly regrettable that a major potential supplier would feel unable to bid for a contract of this type,” European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said in a statement, according to Deutche Welle. “The European Commission would be extremely concerned if it were to emerge that the terms of tender were such as to inhibit open competition for the contract.”
Boeing CEO Jim Albaugh summed up the KC-X process thus: “It’s the longest running soap opera since Days of Our Lives. I’m not sure that we’ve seen the last episode.”
Statement by Deputy Secretary William Lynn on NG Tanker Announcement
(March 8, 2010) -- "We are disappointed by Northrop's decision not to submit a bid for the U.S. Air Force tanker replacement program.
In the last tanker replacement (KC-X) competition, Northrop Grumman competed well on both price and non-price factors. We strongly believe that the current competition is structured fairly and that both companies could compete effectively.
Based on the inputs we received from both offerors to the Department's draft Request for Proposal (RFP), we made changes to reduce the out-year risk to the potential manufacturers of KC-X. However, we did not change the war-fighters' requirements to accommodate either offeror.
The Department strongly supports trans-Atlantic defense industrial ties and believes they benefit the American war-fighter and taxpayer."
KC-45 - out of the running?
The USAF KC-X tanker contest appears to now be a one horse race with the March 8 decision by Northrop Grumman to not bid its Airbus A330 based solution it was partnering with EADS North America for the program.
Northrop Grumman CEO Wes Bush said the company would not submit a bid because the source selection methodology defined in the RFP “clearly favours Boeing’s smaller…tanker.”
“In the previous competition, Northrop Grumman was selected by the Air Force as offering the most capable tanker for the warfighter at the best value for the taxpayer,” he said in a statement. “However, the Northrop Grumman and EADS team is very disappointed that the revised source selection methodology now dramatically favours Boeing’s smaller refuelling tanker. We agree that the fundamental military requirements for the new tanker have not changed since the last competition, but the Department’s new evaluation methodology now clearly favours the smaller tanker.”
The revised source selection is centred around the USAF’s requirement that development risk be shared between the service and industry, and that no additional credit would be available for the A330’s larger offload and greater payload capabilities.
Boeing has announced it will submit a proposal based on the smaller 767-200 airframe but with a new boom, 787 style cockpit displays and other enhancements.
“We continue to believe that Northrop Grumman’s tanker represents the best value for the military and taxpayer – a belief supported by the selection of the A330 tanker design over the Boeing design in the last five consecutive tanker competitions around the globe,” Bush added. “Regrettably, this means that the US Air Force will be operating a less capable tanker than many of our Allies in this vital mission area.”
Some analysts have suggested that EADS North America may go it alone and offer an A330-based solution for KC-X, although with the RFP due to close in early May, the time required to put together a proposal may be too short.
EADS won’t go it alone on KC-X “soap opera”
Northrop Grumman/EADS will not bid their KC-45 (based on the RAAF's KC-30) for KC-X. (Airbus Military)
EADS has confirmed it won’t go it alone in bidding for the USAF’s KC-X tanker replacement after partner Northrop Grumman’s decision not to bid for the program, effectively making the process a one-horse race for Boeing’s 767 based ‘NewGen Tanker’.
EADS CEO Louis Gallois told European media on March 10 that he doesn’t “see any opportunity to come back alone or with others” on the process, while EADS North America CEO Sean O’Keefe later told Aviation Week that his company’s abilities are not sufficiently mature to justify bidding for the US$35bn (A$38.2bn), 179 aircraft deal without its partner. “We’re developing all of those capabilities,” O’Keefe said. “We do not have anything near that in place that would rival that capacity. We could not bring that to the equation alone.”
“Our partners at Northrop Grumman were very concerned with the fixed price contract,” he added. “We were not as concerned.” Under the partnership, EADS subsidiary Airbus would have supplied ‘green’ A330-200 airframes to the joint venture operation in the US state of Alabama where Northrop Grumman would lead on the tanker conversion work, the riskiest part of the process.
Republican Senator John McCain, who stymied Boeing’s bid for a sole source lease-buy deal on KC-X in 2004 after allegations of impropriety involving a former Boeing executive, told US media that he was “not worried about Boeing, the only competitor left for the contract,” but added that he promised he “will monitor it very closely.”
The decision by Northrop Grumman/EADS to not bid on KC-X has also raided trade tensions in Europe, with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and other French, European Union and German officials warning the US that the decision could affect trans-Atlantic trade. The European view appears to be that, such a decision could not have been made without US government knowledge and, perhaps, intervention. “France regrets the decision which raises questions about whether competition rules are working properly,” AP reported French government spokesman Luc Chatel as saying on March 10.
“It is highly regrettable that a major potential supplier would feel unable to bid for a contract of this type,” European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said in a statement, according to Deutche Welle. “The European Commission would be extremely concerned if it were to emerge that the terms of tender were such as to inhibit open competition for the contract.”
Boeing CEO Jim Albaugh summed up the KC-X process thus: “It’s the longest running soap opera since Days of Our Lives. I’m not sure that we’ve seen the last episode.”
Statement by Deputy Secretary William Lynn on NG Tanker Announcement
(March 8, 2010) -- "We are disappointed by Northrop's decision not to submit a bid for the U.S. Air Force tanker replacement program.
In the last tanker replacement (KC-X) competition, Northrop Grumman competed well on both price and non-price factors. We strongly believe that the current competition is structured fairly and that both companies could compete effectively.
Based on the inputs we received from both offerors to the Department's draft Request for Proposal (RFP), we made changes to reduce the out-year risk to the potential manufacturers of KC-X. However, we did not change the war-fighters' requirements to accommodate either offeror.
The Department strongly supports trans-Atlantic defense industrial ties and believes they benefit the American war-fighter and taxpayer."
Last edited by Going Boeing; 14th Mar 2010 at 07:55.
Thread Starter
Hi, the first two were from the Australian Aviation website & the third from ASD News. ASD News had articles similar to the first two. I suspect that this is a tactical move by Northrop Grumman & EADS and there will be further developments rather than Boeing being gifted the contract.
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Mrtt Job - CAE?
Hey guys, anyone got any info on the CAE job looking for ex tanker/instructors with 330 experience at all - like what is involved with the job etc,
thanks
Wja
thanks
Wja
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Originally Posted by Going Boeing
Hi, the first two were from the Australian Aviation website...
I know the guys from AA quite well. They're a small team who works really hard, and I'm sure they'd appreciate the appropriate attribution when cutting and pasting articles from their website.
Thread Starter
Certification Flight Tests Completed for A330 MRTT Hose-and-Drogue System
The completion of this flight-test phase is a further major step towards final military certification of the aircraft
(April 20, 2010) -- Airbus Military has completed all the flight tests required for the daylight certification of the new generation hose-and drogue refuelling system on the A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).
This paves the way towards the formal military certification of the system from Spain's INTA certification authority this summer.
The A330 MRTTT is fitted with the Cobham 905 system, which provides refuelling from under-wing pods. It is the most advanced hose and drogue refuelling system currently available. Testing covered all of the flight envelope required to certify the aircraft handling qualities with the hose-and-drogue deployed, and included a wide range of manoeuvres both in free-flight and in coupled mode with Spanish Air Force F-18 fighters.
"Following civil certification of the A330 MRTT on 17th March 2010, the completion of this flight-test phase is a further major step towards final military certification of the aircraft", says Airbus Military Head of Derivatives, Antonio Caramazana.
Meanwhile, flight testing of the Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) is also progressing well and will be completed shortly. Delivery of the first A330 MRTT will be to the Royal Australian Air Force later this year.
Source : Airbus, an EADS N.V. company (Paris: EAD.PA)
(April 20, 2010) -- Airbus Military has completed all the flight tests required for the daylight certification of the new generation hose-and drogue refuelling system on the A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).
This paves the way towards the formal military certification of the system from Spain's INTA certification authority this summer.
The A330 MRTTT is fitted with the Cobham 905 system, which provides refuelling from under-wing pods. It is the most advanced hose and drogue refuelling system currently available. Testing covered all of the flight envelope required to certify the aircraft handling qualities with the hose-and-drogue deployed, and included a wide range of manoeuvres both in free-flight and in coupled mode with Spanish Air Force F-18 fighters.
"Following civil certification of the A330 MRTT on 17th March 2010, the completion of this flight-test phase is a further major step towards final military certification of the aircraft", says Airbus Military Head of Derivatives, Antonio Caramazana.
Meanwhile, flight testing of the Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) is also progressing well and will be completed shortly. Delivery of the first A330 MRTT will be to the Royal Australian Air Force later this year.
Source : Airbus, an EADS N.V. company (Paris: EAD.PA)
Thread Starter
Delivery of RAAF Air Tanker Support Equipment to Begin
(May 10, 2010) -- Preparations have begun to deliver thousands of items of tooling and spare parts from Europe to Australia to support the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) new fleet of Airbus Military A330 Multi-Role Tanker-Transport (MRTT) air-to-air refuelling tankers.
As part of the Commonwealth's AIR 5402 acquisition process under which Airbus Military is providing the RAAF with five such aircraft, designated by the air force as KC-30A MRTT, some 4,500 individual components - 500 units of Ground Support and Test equipment and 4,000 spares - will be delivered to 33 Squadron at RAAF Amberley, in Queensland, Australia, over the next three months.
The equipment will be needed when the first A330 MRTT enters squadron service at Amberley towards the end of the year.
Prime Contractor, Qantas Defence Services (QDS), and Airbus Military have signed a Through Life Support (TLS) Contract under which Airbus, through QDS, will ensure ongoing maintenance support to the A330 MRTT fleet over the next 22 years.
The signing was attended by the Chief Executive of Airbus Military, Mr. Domingo Urena, who had travelled from Spain for the occasion. Congratulating the parties, Mr. Domingo said: "Qantas and Airbus Military are the ideal team to deliver the level of services that our customer requires."
As Prime Contractor, Qantas Defence Services will base some 50 engineering support personnel at RAAF Amberley to manage the Through Life Support programme. In its Design and Maintenance Support role, Airbus Military will provide QDS with Engineering, Logistics, Technical Data, Supply and Training support services. It will also assign two Field Service Representatives to 33 Squadron for three years to ensure a smooth entry into service.
The Through Life Support agreement also provides for future contracts to ensure additional support for the military aspects of the fleet, specifically Deep Maintenance, consolidating and expanding Airbus Military's presence and role in Brisbane.
Australia has ordered five KC-30A MRTTs. By the end of the year two of these aircraft will have been delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force. Conversion of a third tanker-transport is underway at the Qantas Conversion Centre, Brisbane Airport.
Source : Airbus, an EADS N.V. company (Paris: EAD.PA)
As part of the Commonwealth's AIR 5402 acquisition process under which Airbus Military is providing the RAAF with five such aircraft, designated by the air force as KC-30A MRTT, some 4,500 individual components - 500 units of Ground Support and Test equipment and 4,000 spares - will be delivered to 33 Squadron at RAAF Amberley, in Queensland, Australia, over the next three months.
The equipment will be needed when the first A330 MRTT enters squadron service at Amberley towards the end of the year.
Prime Contractor, Qantas Defence Services (QDS), and Airbus Military have signed a Through Life Support (TLS) Contract under which Airbus, through QDS, will ensure ongoing maintenance support to the A330 MRTT fleet over the next 22 years.
The signing was attended by the Chief Executive of Airbus Military, Mr. Domingo Urena, who had travelled from Spain for the occasion. Congratulating the parties, Mr. Domingo said: "Qantas and Airbus Military are the ideal team to deliver the level of services that our customer requires."
As Prime Contractor, Qantas Defence Services will base some 50 engineering support personnel at RAAF Amberley to manage the Through Life Support programme. In its Design and Maintenance Support role, Airbus Military will provide QDS with Engineering, Logistics, Technical Data, Supply and Training support services. It will also assign two Field Service Representatives to 33 Squadron for three years to ensure a smooth entry into service.
The Through Life Support agreement also provides for future contracts to ensure additional support for the military aspects of the fleet, specifically Deep Maintenance, consolidating and expanding Airbus Military's presence and role in Brisbane.
Australia has ordered five KC-30A MRTTs. By the end of the year two of these aircraft will have been delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force. Conversion of a third tanker-transport is underway at the Qantas Conversion Centre, Brisbane Airport.
Source : Airbus, an EADS N.V. company (Paris: EAD.PA)
Thread Starter
MTOW, my understanding is that all five are to be Multi Role Tanker Transports.
I think that the original contract had options for two additional aircraft and when KRudd started talking about the inadequacies of the BBJ, there was speculation that the two option aircraft could be fitted with a quick change VIP configuration. I don't believe that this concept has proceeded past the speculation stage.
I think that the original contract had options for two additional aircraft and when KRudd started talking about the inadequacies of the BBJ, there was speculation that the two option aircraft could be fitted with a quick change VIP configuration. I don't believe that this concept has proceeded past the speculation stage.