Military Aviation :: Tanker Aircraft :: MRTT :: A330 MRTT

A330 MRTT

IOC: 1 June 2011
First Flight: 15 June 2007
Total Production: 28
Unitary Cost: USD$300 million
Derived from: Airbus A330-200

Also Known As: Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft FSTA, KC-30B (RAAF variant), Multi Role Tanker Transport and Voyager (Royal Air Force)

Origin: Germany and Spain

Contractor/s: EADS

Description: The Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft is a derivative of the proven A310-300 and A330-200 airliners modified to perform air refueling and tactical transport missions in support of military forces worldwide.

The A330 MRTT is a three points tanker for refueling by means of wing-mounted pods and hose-and-drogue and/or advanced refueling boom systems. Each Airbus A330 MRTT will be able to deliver 65 tons of fuel in its air-to-air refueling role, at a distance of 1,000 miles from base, following up to two hours on station.

The A330 MRTT aircraft features greater fuel capacity than A310 MRTT and spacious lower holds to transport larger payloads. All of the fuel is carried entirely within existing tanks in the wing and tail. This leaves the whole cabin free for some 272 seats in the A330 MRTT’s troop-transport role, and its entire cargo hold free to carry military equipment on pallets or in containers.

Australia selected the Air Refueling Boom System/ARBS-equipped A330 MRTT aircraft with General Electric CF6-80E1 engines in April 2004. Five A330 MRTTs worth €1.2 billion ($1.5 billion) will be procured by the Australian Air Force to replace aging Boeing 707 tanker aircraft fleet. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) signed the contract with EADS' Military Transport Aircraft Division for five Airbus A330-200 MRTT on December 20, 2004. Qantas Airways was chosen to provide logistics support for the aircraft.

Deliveries of Australian A330 MRTTs powered by General Electric CF6-80E1 engines are due to begin in 2008 with conversion work on the first A330-200 jetliner to be carried out by EADS in Europe. Qantas will modify the remaining four aircraft in Australia. Australian companies Australian Aerospace - an EADS subsidiary-, ADI and GKN are also involved in this program. Entry into service is expected in 2009.

Northrop-Grumman announced on 14 March 2005 that Nemesis Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) were chosen to safeguard Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) A330s under a $24 million contract with deliveries expected to begin in January 2007.

The United Kingdom selected the A330 MRTT powered by Trent 700 engines for its £13 billion ($23 billion) FSTA program in early 2004. The 27-year FSTA program will replace 19 VC 10s and 9 Tristar aircraft. Recently, France and Airbus have entered negotiations for the purchase of this aircraft intended for the French Air Force. AirTanker was confirmed formally preferred bidder by UK MoD for the FSTA program on February 28, 2005.

Parent system is the MRTT
IOC: 2004
Total Production: 34
Other Family Members: A310 MRTT and KC-45A

Transactions: There are 4 transactions involving 23 items for MRTT from 2009 to 2012 view report

:: Reviews ::

There are 0 reviews
so far

Write your review

:: Specifications ::

Crew: 3
Number of Engines: 2
Passengers: 295
Stretchers: 40

Consumption
Fuel Dispensing Rate: 5,000 l/min (1,316 gal/min)

Dimensions
Length: 59 meter
Wingspan: 60 meter

Fuel Consumption
Fuel Weight Consumption at Cruise: 6,000 kg/hr

Performance
Max Range: 12,500 kilometer

Weight
Fuel Load: 111 ton (244,709 pound)
Max Takeoff Thrust: 144,000 pound
Max Takeoff Weight: 230 ton
Max Zero Fuel Weight: 168 ton
Payload: 35 ton

:: News ::

There are 46 news between
26 Jan 2004
and
10 Apr 2012

1 2 3 4 5

RAF A330 Voyager Multirole Tanker Transport Aircraft Achieves its First Flight Royal Saudi Air Force Starts Flight Training on the A330 MRTT Royal Air Force A330 MRTT FSTA Awarded Type Certification Royal Air Force A330 MRTT Strategic Tanker Aircraft Officially Named Voyager First A330 MRTT Handed Over to Royal Australian Air Force First Voyager Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft Arrives in the UK First A330 MRTT for United Arab Emirates Air Force Makes Maiden Flight First A330 MRTT for UK Royal Air Force Displays its Three-Point Refuelling Capability First A330 MRTT for Royal Saudi Air Force Makes Maiden Flight Airbus Military Demonstrates Fuselage Refuelling Unit on A330 MRTT

:: Operators ::

Operators
	Country	Items	Country	Items
	Australia	5	India	6
	Saudi Arabia	6	United Arab Emirates	3
	United Kingdom	14

fully confirmed operational planned retired cancelled destroyed

:: Related Equipment ::

Related Equipment
		Qty
	Aircraft Protection Systems
	AAQ-24(V) LAIRCM			-	-	-
	Turbofan Engines
	CF6-80E1	x2				-	-
	Trent 772B	x2	-	-

:: Image Gallery ::

There are 24 images added between
3 Dec 2006
and
15 Jul 2011

1 2 3

:: Notes & Resources ::

Last Updated:
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

(*) lead contractor

IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Leave Feedback | Operators map | Reports for MRTT | Compare Tanker Aircraft