Page 116 - Australian Defence Magazine November 2021

116 AIRPOWER
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The combination of passenger and freight capacity, air- to-air refuelling (AAR) flexibility and relatively large fuel offload capability has made the baseline MRTT very popu- lar with export customers. Besides Australia it has so far been selected by the UK, the United Arab Emirates, Singa- pore, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, France and the Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Unit (MMU) which comprises ten European Defence Agency nations. To date, 60 aircraft have been ordered, of which 48 have been delivered.
Airbus Defence and Space is offering a range of enhance- ments to the MRTT customer base under its SmartTanker program, including the world’s first (and so far, only) Auto- matic air-to-air refuelling (A3R) capability. Other features of the SmartTanker project include initiatives to transform the MRTT into a Command and Control (C2) node, en- hanced communications systems utilising Airbus’ Space Data Highway program and a ‘Big Data’ reductive mainte- nance computer system to reduce sustainment costs.
Of these options, the Republic of Singapore Air Force became the first customer for the A3R capability with an announcement during the 2020 Singapore Air Show, but the RAAF has participated in trials of the system and has previously expressed an interest. Singapore’s aircraft are also among the first of what Airbus terms it’s ‘Second Wave’ of MRTTs, which leverage structural and avionics
LEFT: The Wedgetail celebrated ten years of operational service with the RAAF in May 2020
BELOW LEFT: The KC-30A is a regular participant in regional air combat exercises, such as Pitch Black
upgrades from the civil A330 program, including an in- crease in maximum take off weight (MTOW) from the baseline 232 tonnes to 242 tonnes. The new configuration also features wideband SATCOM communications, AAR software upgrades, IFF Mode 5, Link 16 tactical data link and Airbus’ Tanker Integrated Mission System (TIMS), which allows in-flight mission replanning.
In November 2020 the Commonwealth selected Airbus to develop a Communications and Mission Systems mod- ernisation upgrade for the RAAF’s KC-30A fleet as a retrofit package, which will bring it up to the latest MRTT standard.
Under Phase 1 of the program, Airbus will carry out sys- tems design and development activities ahead of a Critical Design Review (CDR) of maturity. Under Phase 2, Airbus will install and deliver a prototype aircraft for the certifica- tion and qualification process, prior to fleet-wide modifica- tions. This work will also see the KC-30A Full Flight Mis- sion Simulator (FFS), the Integrated Procedures Trainer (IPT) and Remote Air Refuelling Operator (RARO) con- sole part-task trainer upgraded at Amberley.
In January, the RAAF further announced that Airbus has signed a contract for a digital focus on ARBS maintenance under the original equipment manufacturer’s SmartForce digital services program. The digital focus will aim to re- duce maintenance costs and fleet availability by optimising fault diagnosis and troubleshooting of the complex boom system. The service will leverage the existing Central Data System program to include flight data recorded by the KC- 30A’s Mission Recording System. The CDS is a joint devel- opment between the Commonwealth, Airbus and Through Life Support provider Northrop Grumman Australia.
“The Central Data System delivers a significant capabil- ity benefit for the KC-30A aircraft and demonstrates the strong commitment within the KC-30A enterprise to inno- vation and improvement,” commented Officer Command- ing Heavy Air Lift Systems Program Office (HALSPO) Group Captain Scott Parry.
A GLIMPSE INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL
Enhancements and upgrades aside, the future of both the
NIGEL PITTAWAY
NIGEL PITTAWAY