Airbus and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) have successfully completed the automatic air-to-air refuelling (A3R) flight test campaign for the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) and Boeing F-15 fighter ahead of its certification in the first half of 2024, Airbus announced on 11 October 2023.
Over the course of three weeks in August an RSAF A330 MRTT made more than 500 automated wet and dry contacts with the air force’s full fleet of receiver aircraft, including the F-15SG aircraft, which is a customised variant of Boeing’s F-15E Strike Eagle multi-role fighter.
The flight tests with F-15SGs were conducted in Singapore, covering the whole operational aerial refuelling envelope in different weather conditions under the supervision of the Spanish National Institute for Aerospace Technology certifying authority.
During the test campaign flights were carried out at night, as well as during the daytime, and not only with F-15s but also with the RSAF’s A330 MRTTs and F-16 fighters as receivers for data collection, to complete the development and to enable night capabilities with the automated system.
In July 2022 the A330 MRTT became the world’s first tanker certified for automatic air-to-air refuelling operations in daylight conditions with F-16s and A330 MRTTs as receivers.
“The A330 MRTT has made the future of air-to-air refuelling a reality as a result of the joint efforts of Airbus and the Republic of Singapore Air Force,” Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Military Air Systems at Airbus Defence and Space, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “This new milestone will enable the RSAF to become the first air force in the world to have a boom automatic refuelling capability with all of its receivers: a capability that can be extended to refuelling receivers from other nations.”
The A330 MRTT’s automatic refuelling system reduces air-refuelling operator workload, improves safety and optimises the air-to-air refuelling transfer rate in operational conditions to maximise air superiority.
Combat proven since 2014, the Airbus A330 MRTT is certified for aerial refuelling with both boom and hose-and-drogue systems for F-15, F-16, F-35 and Typhoon fighters, A330 MRTTs, E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft and many other types.
The RSAF operates six A330 MRTTs, which attained full operational capability in April 2021.
