Airbus revealed that a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) A330 MRTT equipped with the latest A3R system configuration conducted ten flights with Portuguese F-16s and Singaporean F-16s and F-15SG fighters and another Singapore MRTT as the receiver between May and June this year.
“During these flights, more than 500 contacts were performed, out of which more than 150 contacts were automatic in night conditions,” the company explains. As part of these night tests, contacts were carried out in different night illumination conditions and receiver external configurations.
According to Airbus, this achievement was enabled by the successful development of new A3R night operation algorithms and new camera system standards.
“The new camera system incorporates state-of-the-art technology that not only enables the A3R to operate at night, but also improves the image quality used by the air-to-air refuelling operator during manual operations, further enhancing the quality of the A330 MRTT’s vision system in day, dusk and night conditions,” it explained.
Airbus also noted that the A330 MRTT secured certification from the Spanish certifying authority National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) to perform automatic refuelling during daylight conditions with F-15 aircraft. The type is already certified for A3R operations with F-16 and A330 MRTT platforms.
The company earlier completed the flight-test phase of the A3R system with the RSAF in October 2023. Fflight testing was carried out over three weeks in August and involved several RSAF-operated aircraft including an A330 MRTT as well as its F-15SG and F-16 aircraft, which carried out over 500 automated wet (with fuel transfer) and dry (without fuel transfer) contacts.
Airbus earlier stated that the A3R system requires no additional equipment on the receiver aircraft and is designed to reduce workload of the air refuelling operator (ARO), optimise the rate of air-to-air refuelling transfer in operational conditions, as well as enhance safety.
by Jr Ng
