photo: Airbus Military Singapore has selected Airbus Defence and Space to supply six A330 MRTT air-to-air refuelling aircraft for the...
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| photo: Airbus Military |
Singapore has selected Airbus Defence and Space to supply six A330 MRTT air-to-air refuelling aircraft for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).
The force multiplying aerial tankers are true power projection elements enabling extended long range missions only limited by crew fatique.
The Airbus A330-200 commercial airliner derived MRTT can carry 111 tonnes of fuel and refuel two aircrafts simultaneously. A330 will replace the KC-135 aerial tankers with RSAF.
A330 MRTT is equipped with Cobham 905E under-wing hose and drogue pods to refuel drogue refueled RSAF F-5 Phantom fighters and the advanced Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) for boom-refuelled F-15 and F-16 fighters.
A330 MRTT is also equipped with the Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI), which allows it to receive fuel from another tanker extending its range.
The A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport can also double up as a cargo and troop-lift aircraft to deploy troops and equipments. The wide-body A330 MRTT fuselage can accomodate up to 300 troops, or a payload of up to 45 tonnes. It can also easily be converted to accommodate up to 130 stretchers for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC).
Singapore is the sixth nation to select the type following Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom which have ordered a total of 28 aircraft. Airbus is also in final stages of contractual negotiations with India for six tankers.
