The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has completed the first fuel transfer with the air refuelling boom from its Airbus A330 Multi Role...
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has completed the first fuel transfer with the air refuelling boom from its Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (A330 MRTT) to a US Air Force (USAF) F-35A Joint Strike Fighter.
During a four-hour sortie from Edwards AFB, California, the tanker, known in RAAF service as the KC-30A, conducted 59 contacts including five “wet contacts” during which 19,600 kg (43,200 lb) of fuel were passed. All the refuelling was performed used the A330 MRTT’s Airbus Airborne Refuelling Boom System (ARBS).
The KC-30A has two refuelling systems – the hose-and-drogue and the ARBS. The two different refuelling systems allow RAAF to support a wide range of coalition aircraft on Operation OKRA where a KC-30A is currently deployed to support combat operations against Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
The five KC-30As are based at RAAF Base Amberley (QLD) and Air Force will receive an additional two in 2018. A single KC-30A can carry a fuel load of more than 100 tonnes and remain 1800 kilometres from its home base with 50 tonnes of fuel available for offload, for four hours.
Australia has committed to 72 F-35As for RAAF Bases Williamtown and Tindal, with the first aircraft arriving in late 2018. The F-35A will replace the ageing F/A-18A/B Hornet with a 5th-generation networked fighter aircraft.
