Article Posted on : - Aug 07, 2013

The A330 Multi-role Transport Tanker aircraft. An Airbus Military photo.

MADRID, SPAIN (BNS): United Arab Emirates (UAE) has received the third of three new generation A330 MRTT multi-role tanker transports from Airbus Military.

Converted from an Airbus A330 commercial passenger jet by Airbus Military at Getafe near Madrid, the aircraft will serve with the UAE Air Force and Air Defense at Al-Ain airbase, as per the company news release.

Following an extensive series of flight-tests in Abu Dhabi, the aircraft has successfully completed receiver qualification of the two fighter types that the UAE AF&AD will refuel in service -- the F-16E/F Block 60 and Mirage 2000.

The first five A330 MRTT crews completed their training earlier this month and the final five will begin training in September for completion in early 2014.

In UAE AF&AD service the A330 MRTT is 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 Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines and has 256 passenger seats, the release added.