Airbus and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) joined forces to triumphantly conclude an automatic air-to-air refueling (A3R) flight test campaign involving the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) and F-15 fighter aircraft. This milestone achievement has set the stage for certification, expected in the first half of 2024.
Over a three-week period in August 2023, an RSAF A330 MRTT executed more than 500 automated wet and dry contacts with the entire fleet of RSAF receiver aircraft, including the highly customized F-15SG, a variant of the U.S.-built F-15E Strike Eagle air-to-ground fighter jet.
“The A330 MRTT has made the future of air-to-air refueling a reality as a result of the joint efforts of Airbus and the Republic of Air Force. This new milestone will enable the RSAF to become the first Air Force in the world to have a boom automatic refueling capability with all of its receivers, a capability that can be extended to refueling receivers from other nations,” according to Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Military Air Systems at Airbus Defence and Space.
The rigorous flight tests with the F-15SG unfolded in Singapore and spanned the full operational air-to-air refueling envelope, encompassing various weather conditions. These tests were carried out under the watchful eye of the Spanish certifying authority, known as INTA (National Institute for Aerospace Technology).
As an integral part of this campaign, the system was tested under nighttime conditions. Notably, the F-15SG was not the only aircraft involved. The RSAF’s A330 MRTT played the role of a receiver, while F-16s were utilized for data collection purposes. These additional flights were instrumental in enabling night capabilities with the automated A3R system.
In a significant prior accomplishment, the A330 MRTT secured the distinction of becoming the world’s first tanker certified for automatic air-to-air refueling operations in daylight conditions with F-16s and A330 MRTTs as receivers in July 2022.
The automatic refueling system not only lightens the workload of air-refueling operators but also enhances safety and optimizes the air-to-air refueling transfer rate in operational scenarios, thereby bolstering air superiority.
Having proven its combat worthiness since 2014, the Airbus A330 MRTT boasts certifications for aerial refueling with both boom and hose-and-drogue systems for a diverse range of aircraft, including F-15, F-16, F-35, A330 MRTT, AWACS, Eurofighter, and many more.
This groundbreaking achievement promises to usher in a new era in aerial refueling, benefiting military operations around the world. With certification on the horizon, the Airbus A330 MRTT is poised to play a pivotal role in ensuring air dominance for nations with F-15 fighter aircraft.