Article Posted on : - Jun 23, 2011

The Airbus Military A330 MRTT. Photo: Airbus Military.

MADRID, SPAIN (BNS): The second Airbus Military A330 MRTT new generation tanker/transport has been formally delivered to the Australian Defence Materiel Organisation at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base RAAF Amberley, Queensland, Australia.

The aircraft, designated the KC-30A in RAAF service, was ferried from Madrid following its conversion by Qantas Defence Services (QDS) and Airbus Military and arrived on Saturday 18th June, according to a news release by Airbus Military.

Formal handover of the aircraft took place on 22nd June and follows the delivery of the first aircraft on 1st June.

The third aircraft is under conversion in Brisbane by QDS and will be delivered later this year. The fourth aircraft to be delivered is under refurbishment in Madrid, following completion of developmental, certification and qualification testing and will be delivered to the DMO by the end of the year. The fifth and final aircraft for the RAAF, also converted by QDS, will be delivered in 2012 and the fleet will serve with 33 Squadron RAAF.

In RAAF service, the A330 MRTT will be equipped with two underwing refuelling pods, the fly-by-wire Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS), and a Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI) enabling it to be refuelled from another tanker.

It is powered by two General Electric CF6-80E engines, has an optimized cabin layout of 270 seats, crew rest compartment and integral airstairs, and underfloor cargo hold for both military pallets and civil cargo containers.