The Australian Government will purchase two additional KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force. ...
The Australian Government will purchase two additional KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force.
The two additional KC-30A(A330 MRTT) aircraft will be delivered in 2018 and provide a substantial increase to the air-to-air refuelling capacity of the RAAF.
Defense ministry has signed an update to the existing acquisition contract with Airbus Defence and Space for the two aircraft and associated conversion at a cost of approximately AUD $408m.
These aircraft will be based on two previously-owned Qantas Airways A330-200 airliners which will be converted to A330 MRTTs by Airbus at its site in Getafe near Madrid.
The aircraft is capable of refuelling F/A-18A/B Hornets, F/A-18F Super Hornets, E-7A Wedgetail, C-17A Globemasters and other KC-30A aircraft.
In the future it will refuel EA-18G Growler, P-8A Poseidon and the F-35A (Joint Strike Fighter) providing a force-multiplier so aircraft can remain on station longer, extending their range and persistence.
In RAAF service the A330 MRTT is equipped with the Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS), two underwing hose-and-drogue refuelling pods used to refuel RAAF F/A-18 and other fighters, and a Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI) allowing it to be refuelled itself from another tanker.
Each KC-30A has a fuel capacity of more than 100 tonnes, and can offload fuel via the 17-metre-long ARBS or the two hose-and-drogue refuelling pods.
Since September 2014, the KC-30A deployed to Operation OKRA has delivered more than 10,800 tonnes of fuel.
The additional two aircraft will be based at RAAF Base Amberley, increasing RAAF KC-30A fleet to seven. The MRTT can switch from tanker role to transport role according to the operational need.
