The A330 MRTT is the only new-generation Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft flying, and fully certified today, after having demonstrated its capability during an extensive Flight Test campaign. Following a first delivery in early June, it is due to begin operations with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in early Fall. The A330 MRTT uniquely offers military strategic air transport as well as air-to-air refuelling capabilities.
The A330 MRTT is the most capable Tanker/ Transporter currently available.
It is the only aircraft able to perform simultaneously three different types of missions: Aerial Refuelling (Tanker role), passenger and/or freight transport, and/or medical evacuation (MEDEVAC). Also, its tank capacity is sufficient to supply the required fuel quantities without the need for any additional reservoirs, nor major structural modifications and it is able to carry more passengers and more freight than any of its competitors.
The A330-200 wing is large enough to hold all the fuel needed (111 tonnes / 245,000 lb) to make the A330 MRTT a high performing tanker able to refuel any kind of receiver, without requiring any additional fuel tanks and so avoiding any reduction in its ability to carry passengers or cargo.
With its true widebody fuselage, the A330 MRTT is ideal to carry any kind of military or humanitarian payload on strategic missions. Furnished with an attractively modern design, the cabin is conceived to ensure optimum seating configurations in every class, maximising both capacity and comfort. These features enable a complete range of configurations, from pure troop transport to the complex customization required for VIP guests. For example, it can accommodate 253 seats in a three-class configuration, through to 270 passengers in two classes, or some 300 in a single class layout.
The A330 MRTT is also designed to carry a payload of up to 45 tonnes / 99,000 lb. Thanks to its optimised fuselage cross section, the cargo can conveniently be carried under-floor in any of the standard containers and pallets, ranging from the LD1 to LD3 and LD6, as well as the standard 88x108 inch 463-L NATO military pallets, which can be loaded onto the aircraft through a proven semi-automatic cargo loading system. Some of the cargo can also be carried as non-palletised “bulk”. The main deck cargo compartment can also be used for cargo, as required, when the aircraft is specified as a freighter. In this instance the main deck is fitted with a large upper deck cargo door and cargo loading devices in the main deck floor. This allows the A330 MRTT to carry up to 26 88x108 inch 463-L NATO military pallets. Furthermore, the aircraft can also be configured as a combi, to carry freight in the forward part of the main deck and passengers in the aft part.
The A330 MRTT is also an outstanding strategic medical and casualty evacuation (casevac and medevac) aircraft with a widebody cabin capable of carrying, from prepared airfields, up to 130 stretchers over intercontinental distances in comfort. In a ‘light medevac’ configuration, medical beds can be installed above designated fold-down seats. This allows the aircraft to be used as a troop transport on an outbound relief mission, with medical beds stowed in the lower cargo compartments, and then rapidly converted for medevac on the return. In an ‘intensive medevac’ configuration, critical care modules can be installed to replicate an intensive care unit in the air. The aircraft could typically carry 28 NATO stretchers, up to six critical care modules, 20 seats for medical staff, and 100 passenger seats.
The A330 MRTT also benefits from the most up-to-date design and manufacturing techniques, and integrates the most advanced avionics as well as the proven fly-by-wire control systems which allow total flight envelope protection (when in normal control law) featured by the basic A330-200. This means higher reliability as well as lower crew workload, and enabling concentration on mission execution.
The A330 MRTT is offered with a customised suite of military avionics and a mission system integrated with civil avionics. A comprehensive survivability package including a Defensive Aid System (DAS), fuel tank inerting system and an armoured cockpit are all available.
Representing the state-of-the-art in its category, the A330-200 has a range of up to 8,000 nm/ 14,800 km, with a maximum speed of Mach 0.86. It is the primary choice as a platform for a Multi Role Tanker Transport, offering the best performance at the lowest investment and costs. It provides the best value for money, with potential for long-term growth as confirmed by its continuing successes in the market.
