Airbus A330 MRTT

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Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport

A330 MRTT with two Eurofighter Typhoon.
Type	Tanker/transport
Manufacturer	Airbus
Status	In development
Primary user	RAF, RAAF

The Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) is a early 21st century aerial refueling tanker aircraft based on the civilian A330-200.

One of the greatest attributes of the A330 as a tanker aircraft is its massive internal fuel capacity. The 111,000 kg / 122 tons of fuel is held in the wings, which leaves the lower deck available for cargo. Fuel capacity can be further increased with underfloor tanks, which would not compromise main deck cargo capacity or seating for strategic transport. Another major benefit of the A330 MRTT is the fact that the two engine A330 shares the same wing with the four engined A340-200/-300. This allows the A330 MRTT to use the two extra hardpoints of the A340 wing for the placement of refueling pods.

The A330 MRTT has been selected by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), as well as the UK under the RAF's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) project, to take the place of older tanker aircraft. The RAF is seeking to replace their ageing Vickers VC10 and Lockheed Tristar based tankers, while the RAAF is replacing their veteran 707 tanker/transports.

The RAF aircraft will operate solely in the probe and drogue role, while Australia's five airframes will also be equipped with a refueling boom. Australia was initially to procure four aircraft with an option to obtain a fifth, however the RAAF has since decided to go ahead with the procurement of the fifth aircraft to allow for two simultaneous deployments of two aircraft, with the fifth providing contingency cover. All of Australia's Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft will be operated by No. 33 Squadron RAAF based at RAAF Base Amberley. The Australian aircraft will be designated KC-30B Multi-Role Tanker Transports.[1]

1 UK doubts
2 Airbus and the USAF
- 2.1 KC-135E Replacement Controversy
- 2.2 Future Possibilities
3 Specifications
4 Notes
5 External links
6 Related content

[edit] UK doubts

Following aircraft selection, the UK Ministry of Defence began exclusive negotiations with the Airtanker consortium. However, beginning in April 2004, there have been continuing rumours on the fragile state of the contract negotiations. This culminated in an ultimatum by the UK's Defence Procurement Agency, delivered to EADS, demanding a reduced price for the aircraft.

With continuing doubts over the FSTA programme, Marshall Aerospace — which is responsible for the original conversion of L-1011 Tristars to tankers for the RAF — has offered to buy and convert some of the large number of retired commercial L-1011’s to tanker aircraft. This would give the RAF a much needed increase in capacity (with the upcoming retirement of the VC10 fleet) at a fraction of the cost of the £13Bn FSTA project.

In a similar move, Omega Air has offered the RAF a three point tanker version of the DC-10 (see also KC-10 Extender). Omega Air has provided aerial refueling aircraft to the U.S. Navy. Like the Tristar proposal, this would take advantage of the large number of retired civil airliners.

[edit] Airbus and the USAF

[edit] KC-135E Replacement Controversy

EADS offered the A330 MRTT to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to replace around 100 of their oldest KC-135E Stratotankers. Most USAF KC-135s are of the updated KC-135R Stratotanker variant.

Initially rejected in favour of the KC-767, the USAF ended up cancelling the KC-767 order when the deal became embroiled it a political and criminal controversy. As a result of an investigation into this controversy, Darleen Druyun, an Air Force procurement official, was found to have been favoring Boeing with contracts while negotiating a $250,000-a-year job with the company. Ms. Druyun was sentenced to nine months in prison in 2004. ^{[citation needed]}

Part of the USAF's original rationale for rejecting the A330 in 2002, which Airbus argues has some greater attributes as a tanker than the 767, was that Airbus lacked experience in aerial refueling aircraft. Since that time, Airbus has been selected by both the UK and Australia, and EADS will have had operational experience of their refueling booms before even the most demanding USAF in service date; those booms being flight tested on the Airbus A310 MRTT first.

[edit] Future Possibilities

During the 2004 Farnborough Air Show, US Air Force Secretary James Roche stated that a further bid from EADS would be "welcome." It remains to be seen whether this is actual change in the Air Force’s attitude towards the European manufacturer, or an attempt to influence any future negotiations with Boeing. In early 2006 the United States Congress passed a defence bill which reverses an earlier amendment which barred Airbus from bidding for the contract.^[1]

EADS is in partnered with Northrop Grumman and markets the aircraft as the KC-30 to the USAF. In 2006 the USAF released a RFP for a new tanker aircraft, to be selected by 2007. It is competing against the KC-767, and possibly a recently announced 'KC-777'.

Should Northrop Grumman/EADS win the U.S. Air Force contract, it would be required to invest approximately US$600 million in a new assembly plant in the United States, which is currently planned for Mobile, Alabama.

[edit] Specifications

General characteristics

Crew: 3: 2 pilots, 1 AAR operator
Length: 59.69 m (195 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 60.3 m (197 ft 10 in)
Height: 17.89 m (58 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 361.6 m² (3892 ft²)
Empty weight: 120,500 kg (265,657 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 230,000 kg (507,063 lb)
Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Trent 700 or General Electric CF6-80 turbofans, 316 kN (71,000 lbf) each