Airbus A310 MRTT

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While operated for some time as a pure transport aircraft the Airbus A310 is now being offered as the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) through the addition of an aerial refueling capability.

The aircraft are manufactured and modified by EADS/Airbus. The conversion involves

Installation of two AAR pods under each wing
Four additional fuel tanks (extra 28,000 kg)—giving total capacity of almost 78,000 kg
Fuel Operator Station (FOS) to control fuel offload, cameras etc, military radios and exterior lighting. For MRTT, a remote surveillance of approaching/refueling process with a night-vision capable video system had to be developed. This system (developed by a small company called VIDAIR) allows operation both with visible light and also near-infrared radiation.
Reinforced wings and aircraft floor
Minor cockpit modifications.

The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) has become the first customer for the MRTT, converting four of their seven A310s. The Canadian Forces have ordered two, converting two of their five A310s, which are known as the CC-150 Polaris in Canadian service.

While the current MRTTs rely on probe/drogue refueling EADS has invested $90m in research and development of a boom refueling system—as used by the USAF. They are now able to offer tankers from the small A310 with refueling pods to the large A330 MRTT equipped with refueling booms.

EADS has taken advantage of Boeing's difficulties over the USAF KC-767 deal, restating their bid for the USAF contract (though many observers doubt the MRTT's chances). EADS has won the recent UK (through Airtanker consortium) and Australian contracts to provide AAR/AT for both air forces with the A330.

A310 MRTT is significantly smaller than A330 MRTT. Since production of A310 airframes is over, it can only be made from refurbished airliners, or as an upgrade to A310's already used by Air forces (option chosen by Germany and Canada). As a tanker, it has very similar capacity to KC-135R, but, because of the larger cabin, it is much more flexible, offering good capacity for cargo, troop transport, VIP transport, or other use, lacking only the capacity to land on rough strips to qualify as a strategic transport. Airbus hopes to sell it to some of the countries that need to replace the Boeing 707's they use as tankers.