2 weeks Ago By Alexander Mitchell
One of the most important logistical support elements of any modern aerial fighting force is its ability to refuel aircraft in the skies. This allows a nation to keep planes in the sky for many hours at a time, ensuring that air superiority is maintained and that airspace remains secured. As a result, global militaries have invested heavily in the development of special tanker aircraft designed for these kinds of missions.
Get all the latest aviation news from Simple Flying! One of the most successful tanker aircraft ever developed is the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), a European-built aerial refueling platform and military transport jet based on the civilian airliner, the Airbus A330. In total, more than 15 countries have placed orders for the model, which was designed by Airbus Defense. In total, more than 82 orders for the type have been placed, and around 60 units had been delivered by the start of this year, according to the manufacturer .
The aircraft was so successful that Airbus even considered the development of a version of the aircraft in collaboration with Northrop Grumman that could enter service with the United States Air Force. This variant, the Northrop Grumman KC-45, however, would ultimately be canceled, and no models would ever be delivered to operators. Nonetheless, the Airbus A330 MRTT still remains one of the most important and impactful tanker aircraft to ever hit the market.
In this article, we will take a deeper look at this unique jet and its story, attempting to understand why this aircraft has been recognized as the unique and popular platform it is today. A brief look at the history and development of the Airbus A330 MRTT Airbus originally planned for the Airbus A330 MRTT to be a military adaption of the popular A330-200 passenger jet, and they wanted to make sure that the plane’s flexible engineering would allow for it to serve as both a tanker and a transport jet. The aircraft was equipped with multiple different refueling systems which allow it to refuel many different types of receiver aircraft.
For example, the model has been equipped with an Airbus Military Aerial Refueling Boom System for aircraft that have receptacle-type fuel receivers and under-wing refueling pods and fuselage-based refueling units for aircraft with probe-type fuel receivers. Furthermore, the aircraft can be fitted with a universal in-flight refueling system which will allow the model to use the fuel it is carrying to refuel its own tanks while in flight. One of the key features the MRTT offers is its impressive fuel capabilities.
Without external tanks, the aircraft can carry more than 240,000 pounds of fuel while still leaving room for around 100,000 pounds of cargo. The aircraft’s wing structure has been modified from that of the original Airbus A330 and Airbus A340 models, allowing it to accommodate refueling pods and leveraging existing design elements to support fuel management systems. Much more than a tanker, the A330 MRTT is a cargo hauler, troop transport and medical aid station if needed.
Discover more about this amazing aircraft The aircraft goes far beyond just being a multi-role tanker The excessive versatility of the Airbus A330 MRTT has been further showcased by the plane's dynamic cabin. The jet can be tailored to meet many different mission requirements, beyond simply refueling other aircraft. The plane can transport up to 380 passengers, and a two-class setup can accommodate around 266 passengers.
For certain specialized troop transport missions, ones in which soldiers have large amounts of equipment, the aircraft can carry around 300 passengers. Get all the latest aviation news for Europe from Simple Flying! The plane can also be adapted for missions such as medical evacuations, where it has the capability to accommodate around 130 patients in stretchers in addition to other personnel. The jet's configuration is designed to help handle multiple different missions, and it is also a very capable cargo transport.
The plane can carry commercial containers, military pallets and NATO-designated storage units, in addition to other oversized equipment. Manufacturer Airbus has continued to invest in and emphasize the plane's customizability. The plane even offers an option for military operators to install a crew rest compartment which will extend any mission's endurance , and it also offers a removable set of airstairs in the passenger cabin which can help support passenger boarding even at remote airfields that lack group support infrastructure.
Qantas still flies a fleet of reliable but aging workhouses, but what is the state of the A330 fleet today? The process for converting an Airbus A330-200 into an Airbus A330 MRTT is rather complex, and it takes place at Airbus's facility in Toulouse and at the aircraft manufacturer's Conversion Center in Getafe, Spain, where military systems and refueling equipment were installed. The aircraft type was originally certified by Spanish authorities in October 2010, with the Royal Australian Air Force putting the jet into service for the first time in June 2011. The aircraft's development process has continued with the introduction of the advanced A330 MRTT+.
Airbus extensively studied the opportunity to build a new Airbus A330-based multirole tanker despite the manufacturer choosing to end production of the Airbus A330-200 in 2018. This new variant, which was announced at the 2024 Farnborough Air Show, is based on the Airbus A330-800 and is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines. These powerful engines offered a fuel efficiency improvement of 8% , with the assistance of aerodynamic improvements on the aircraft's wings.
A deeper look at the jet's operational history The Airbus A330 MRTT has had a successful history of securing orders from global operators. Australia's air force was the aircraft's launch customer, and it procured KC-30A models, which were MRTT variants equipped with Aerial Refueling Boom Systems and two Cobham under-wing refueling pods. The aircraft is powered by General Electric CF6-80E1A3 engines, and it is configured to carry around 270 passengers and more than 70,000 pounds of cargo.
Due to the aircraft's impressive capabilities, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has continued to expand its fleet. The United Kingdom has also adopted the MRTT for its Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft program, and these models are powered by the Rolls-Royce Trent 772B-60 engines. The jet, which is capable of operating exclusively using probe-and-drogue refueling systems, has been adapted for both tanker and VIP roles.
All 14 models that have been delivered to the Royal Air Force are currently in operational service. The Canadian government has released more information about its plan to operate a fleet of 9 A330MRTTs. There has also been strong demand for the model from Middle Eastern operators.
The United Arab Emirates signed orders for five units, the fourth of which was delivered last November, according to FlightGlobal . These MRTTs are similar to those in service with the Royal Australian Air Force, and they are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines. Similarly, Saudi Arabia also has contracts with Airbus for similarly-designed MRTTs.
The Royal Singapore Air Force also ordered six MRTT models which were set to be equipped with Trent 772B engines, and South Korea designated its MRTT models as KC-330 Cygnus variants, with deliveries set to begin in 2018. These South Korean jets are set to serve in both refueling and transport capacities. Additional orders from countries like Spain, Brazil, France and Canada have continued to boost the aircraft's order book.
So what distinguishes the MRTT from other tanker models? The Airbus A330 MRTT has distinguished itself from other tanker aircraft through its ability to provide operators with multi-role versatility. Most other modified commercial platforms only provide the military with a single function, with planes like the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker only really able to serve one purpose. The aircraft can perform both air-to-air refueling and strategic transport missions .
The aircraft has three main functionalities. Unlike many dedicated tankers, the Airbus A330 MRTT can be rapidly reconfigured to serve multiple different purposes, including as a troop transport, cargo airlines, and can even be used as an extremely capable medical evacuation aircraft. As previously mentioned, the aircraft can use its versatility to serve as everything from a troop transport for 380 passengers or a capable air-to-air refueler that can carry massive payloads on its cargo deck while also keeping fighter jets flying for hours at a time.
With this in mind, it is not surprising that the Airbus A330 MRTT has become one of the most successful multi-role tanker aircraft in the skies today ..
