Airbus DS demonstrates helicopter refuelling from C295W airlifter

[Saifullah Sani]

An H225M Caracal helicopter makes contact with the C295W during a tanking demonstration conducted in December and announced in January. Source: Airbus Defence and Space

Airbus Defence and Space (DS) recently demonstrated the ability of the C295W medium transport aircraft to conduct aerial refuelling with a helicopter.

The demonstration, which took place in December but was not announced until 17 January, saw the C295W perform a series of contacts with an Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracal at speeds of between 105 and 115 kt.

According to the company, "Both crews reported smooth and simple operation." This C295W-to-H225M demonstration follows an earlier C295W-to-C295W series of contacts that were conducted in September 2016.

Development of an air-to-air refuelling (AAR) kit for the C295 was first revealed by Airbus DS at its annual Trade Media Briefing in June 2016. As noted at the time, the modification uses a standard AAR kit fitted to pallets and involves only minimal modifications to the aircraft related to the control systems for hose-and-drogue operations.

The AAR kit is one of a number of enhancements Airbus DS is either developing or has recently rolled out for the C295 to improve performance, enhance situational awareness, and to reduce pilot workload.

The company has also set about expanding its mission set from the current transport and maritime patrol configurations to include signals intelligence (SIGINT), gunship, airborne early warning and control (AEW&C), and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).

In its baseline transport and maritime patrol configurations the C295 is already the best-selling type in its class, and Airbus Defence and Space is targeting 80% of the accessible world fixed-wing medium-lift market with the platform.

http://www.janes.com/article/67003/airbus-ds-demonstrates-helicopter-refuelling-from-c295w-airlifter