• About
  • Contact
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
TUR
Advertisement
English Defence News
  • Home
  • News
    • Common News
    • Air Force and Air Systems
    • Land Forces and Land Systems
    • Navy and Marine Systems
  • Articles
  • Turkish Defence Industry Products
    • Land Platforms
      • Tracked Vehicles
      • Wheeled Vehicles
      • Special Vehicles
    • Ships
      • Warship
      • Amphibious Ships
      • Support Ships
      • Coast Guard and Patrol Boats
    • Aerospace
      • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
      • Rotary-Wing
      • Fixed Wing Aircraft Systems
      • Space Systems
    • Radars and EW
      • Electronic Warfare Systems
      • Radars and Sensors
      • Jammers
    • Warfare and Electronic Systems
      • Avionic Systems
      • Command Control and Information Systems
      • Communication Systems
      • Simulators
    • Weapon Systems
      • Air Defense Systems
      • Light Weapons and Ammunition
      • Heavy Weapons and Ammunition
      • Missile & Rocket Systems
    • Supply and R & D Projects
  • Home
  • News
    • Common News
    • Air Force and Air Systems
    • Land Forces and Land Systems
    • Navy and Marine Systems
  • Articles
  • Turkish Defence Industry Products
    • Land Platforms
      • Tracked Vehicles
      • Wheeled Vehicles
      • Special Vehicles
    • Ships
      • Warship
      • Amphibious Ships
      • Support Ships
      • Coast Guard and Patrol Boats
    • Aerospace
      • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
      • Rotary-Wing
      • Fixed Wing Aircraft Systems
      • Space Systems
    • Radars and EW
      • Electronic Warfare Systems
      • Radars and Sensors
      • Jammers
    • Warfare and Electronic Systems
      • Avionic Systems
      • Command Control and Information Systems
      • Communication Systems
      • Simulators
    • Weapon Systems
      • Air Defense Systems
      • Light Weapons and Ammunition
      • Heavy Weapons and Ammunition
      • Missile & Rocket Systems
    • Supply and R & D Projects
No Result
View All Result
English Defence News
Home News Air Force and Air Systems

Airbus A330 MRTT, achieves world’s first fully automatic refuelling contacts

by Fatih Mehmet Küçük
April 17, 2020
in Air Force and Air Systems
0
Airbus A330 MRTT, achieves world’s first fully automatic refuelling contacts
0
SHARES
49
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Airbus has achieved the first ever fully automatic air-to-air refuelling (A3R) operation with a boom system. The flight test campaign, conducted earlier in the year over the Atlantic Ocean, involved an Airbus tanker test aircraft equipped with the Airbus A3R solution, with an F-16 fighter aircraft of the Portuguese Air Force acting as a receiver.

This milestone is part of the industrialisation phase of A3R systems ahead of its implementation in the A330 MRTT tanker development.

The campaign achieved a total of 45 flight test hours and 120 dry contacts with the A3R system, covering the whole aerial refuelling envelope, as the F-16 and MRTT consolidate the maturity and capabilities of the development at this stage. The certification phase will start in 2021.

ADVERTISEMENT
RSAF A330 MRTT in a refuelling operation with a RSAF F-15SG fighter.

Didier Plantecoste, Airbus Head of Tanker and Derivatives Programmes, said: “The achievement of this key milestone for the A3R programme highlights the A330 MRTT’s excellent capability roadmap development and once more confirms that our tanker is the world’s reference for present and future refuelling operations. Our special thanks go to the Portuguese Air Force for their continued support and help on this crucial development.”

The A3R system requires no additional equipment on the receiver aircraft and is intended to reduce air refuelling operator (ARO) workload, improve safety and optimise the rate of air-to-air refuelling transfer in operational conditions, helping maximise aerial superiority. The goal for the A3R system is to develop technologies that will reach fully autonomous capabilities.

Once the system is activated by the ARO, the A3R flies the boom automatically and keeps the alignment between the boom tip and the receiver receptacle with an accuracy of a couple of centimeters; the proper alignment and the receiver stability is checked in real-time to keep a safe distance between the boom and the receiver and also to determine the optimum moment to extend the telescopic beam to achieve the connection with the receiver. At this point, the fuel transfer is initiated to fill up the receiver aircraft and once completed and the disconnection is commanded, the boom is cleared away from the receiver by retracting the telescopic beam and flying the boom away to keep a safe separation distance. During this process, the ARO simply monitors the operation.

Airbus is getting stronger

A330 MRTT Phénix / JL Brunet

Considering the bad things on the Boeing front and the setbacks of the KC-46 project, the A330 MRTT’s success draws more attention. This will be reflected in the sales charts. Boeing’s losses both on the military and civilian side strengthen Airbus.

In addition, the A330 MRTT is a prominent candidate for the Turkish Air Force’s future tanker fleet.

Tags: a330airbusmrtt
Fatih Mehmet Küçük

Fatih Mehmet Küçük

Graduate of Computer Programming. Defense industry and defense policy researcher. Amateur photographer. He is interested in war doctrines.

Next Post
Turkish Air Forces Drill in the Mediterranean Draws Attention

Turkish Air Forces Drill in the Mediterranean Draws Attention

Please login to join discussion

Popular News

    • Trending
    • Comments
    • Latest
    Saudi Arabia produces Turkish Armed UAV as of 2021

    Saudi Arabia produces Turkish Armed UAV as of 2021

    July 14, 2020
    What happened to Turkey Leopard 2A4 modernization?

    What happened to Turkey Leopard 2A4 modernization?

    May 29, 2020
    Turnover of Turkish defense industry exceeds $10 billion for first time

    Turnover of Turkish defense industry exceeds $10 billion for first time

    July 25, 2020
    STM Kargu suicide UAV used in Fire Free-2020 drill

    STM Kargu suicide UAV used in Fire Free-2020 drill

    November 17, 2020
    Product Family of Sarsılmaz Grows With PMT Machineguns

    Product Family of Sarsılmaz Grows With PMT Machineguns

    2
    On Turkish Navy and Aircraft Carrier

    On Turkish Navy and Aircraft Carrier

    1
    Tests for Early Warning Radar System begin

    Tests for Early Warning Radar System begin

    1
    I Class Frigate

    First of I Class (Istif), TCG Istanbul will be launched by the end of 2020

    1
    Canada cancels Turkey’s export permits

    Canada cancels Turkey’s export permits

    April 13, 2021
    60mm Mortar Direct Fire Control System

    60mm Mortar Direct Fire Control System

    April 12, 2021
    Construction of landing craft mechanized of TCG ANADOLU continues

    Construction of landing craft mechanized of TCG ANADOLU continues

    April 12, 2021
    First firing for the Moon mission from DeltaV

    First firing for the Moon mission from DeltaV

    April 12, 2021

    Category

    • Air Defense Systems
    • Air Force and Air Systems
    • Amphibious Ships
    • Articles
    • Coast Guard and Patrol Boats
    • Command Control and Information Systems
    • Common News
    • Communication Systems
    • Electronic Warfare Systems
    • Fixed Wing Aircraft Systems
    • General
    • Heavy Weapons and Ammunition
    • Jammers
    • Land Forces and Land Systems
    • Light Weapons and Ammunition
    • Missile & Rocket Systems
    • Navy and Marine Systems
    • News
    • Radars and Electronical Warfare Systems
    • Radars and Sensors
    • Rotary-Wing
    • Simulators
    • Space Systems
    • Special Vehicles
    • Supply and R & D Projects
    • Support Ships
    • Tracked Vehicles
    • Turkish Defence Industry Products
    • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
    • Warship
    • Weapon Systems
    • Wheeled Vehicles

    About Us

    Defense Turk produces news, articles, analysis and content related to the defense industry, especially the Turkish Defense Industry.

    • About
    • Contact

    © 2017- 2021 @ Defence Turk

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • TUR
    • Home
    • News
    • Articles
    • Turkish Defence Industry Products
      • Land Platforms
        • Tracked Vehicles
        • Wheeled Vehicles
        • Special Vehicles
      • Aerospace Systems
        • Fixed Wing Aircraft Systems
        • Rotary-Wing
        • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
        • Space Systems
      • Ships
        • Amphibious Ships
        • Coast Guard and Patrol Boats
        • Support Ships
        • Warship
      • Radars and Electronical Warfare Systems
      • Warfare and Electronic Systems
      • Weapon Systems
      • Supply and R & D Projects

    © 2017- 2021 @ Defence Turk

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password?

    Create New Account!

    Fill the forms below to register

    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In