On day 2 of the Singapore Airshow 2020 Airbus and Singapore announced a collaboration on the development of the A330 SMART Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). RSAF is the launch customer for the Smart enhancements, which includes developing and implementing Automatic Air-to-Air refuelling (A3R) capability as well as enhanced maintenance solutions for the A330 MRTT. Airbus Head of Military Aircraft, Alberto Gutiérrez said, “With this agreement, the Singapore Air Force leads the evolution of the A330 MRTT, helping us to bring new hands-off capabilities to the benchmark of next-gen tanker operations”. The RSAF has taken delivery of all six A330MRTTs that it ordered. One is on display in the static park at the Singapore Air Show. With this collaboration Singapore becomes a key partner for the new automated aerial refueling capabilities. Under the agreement, a RSAF A330 MRTT will take part in the ongoing development, flight test campaign and final certification programme. The flight test campaign, which has already started, is aiming for certification in 2021. While development of SMART MRTT capabilities further strengthens Airbus’ leading position and technological edge in the tanker market, the enhanced maintenance solution is designed to improve A330 MRTT’s availability and overall mission success rate. In July 2018 Airbus demonstrated that A3R was feasible as a product after the achievement of the world’s first automated contact with a Boom system. In a joint operation with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the company’s A310 development tanker performed seven automated contacts with a RAAF KC-30A MRTT, also made by Airbus. The RSAF will now take part in the ongoing development, flight test, and certification program. The A3R system requires no additional equipment on the receiver and is intended to reduce air refuelling operator (ARO) workload, improve safety and optimise the rate of air-to-air refuelling (AAR) transfer in operational conditions to maximise aerial superiority. Once the A3R system is activated by the ARO, the Boom Flight Control System becomes fully automated and progresses to transfer fuel upon contact with the receiver. During this process, the ARO simply monitors the operation. In the event of an anomaly due to receiver stability deviations or malfunctions on the tanker, the A3R system is able to disconnect and/or clear the Boom away from the receiver safely. On the receiver end, pilots closing in to the tanker take visual cues from the automated Pilot Director Lights (PDL). This feature allows for more efficient operations, with smoother transitions and minimises time during the coupled state. The A3R development paves the way towards a fully autonomous aerial refuelling operation. Enhanced maintenance equipment will allow ground crews to detect and troubleshoot directly from the aircraft’s cockpit the root cause of a failure. This new upgrade enables faster resolution of ground tasks while providing the means for maximising the efficient use of spare parts. Johan Pelissier, Airbus head of Asia-Pacific, while address a media briefing, said that the company was also in talk with Indonesia about an MRTT order. There are also ongoing talks with India, and although there hasn't been any decision, they expect some "good news" this year.
Italian airline ITA Airways is now a member of the Lufthansa Group and will be the Group's fifth network airline.…
Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs) are predicted to increase by 25.6% between 2025 and 2030,according to data recently revealed by IBA,…
Indonesian state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia, operating under the brand InJourney Airports, reported a notable rise in passenger…
The Department of National Defense (DND) of the Philippines has confirmed plans to acquire 12 additional FA-50 Block 20 Fighting…
Airbus Helicopters has delivered two H225M helicopters to the French Armament General Directorate (DGA), marking the first of eight helicopters…
Curtiss-Wright has unveiled the PacStar 452 server, designed to enhance data storage capabilities in tactical edge applications. This new server…
CAE has inaugurated its first Air Traffic Services (ATS) Training Centre, on its campus in Montreal, Canada. As the largest…
Muirhead, a Scotland-based supplier of aviation leather, has announced its expansion into the global seat cover sector, aiming to simplify…
Lockheed Martin has delivered 10 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters to the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) in 2024. This…
Scoot, the budget carrier of Singapore Airlines, has unveiled the launch of direct flight services to Vienna in Austria and…
The Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD) has signed its first contract under the $8.7 billion U.S. aid package approved by…
Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) has granted certification to ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia, a subsidiary of Dassault Aviation, allowing it…
From 9 to 11 January 2025, Vietjet's senior leadership visited the United States to meet with strategic partners during the…
SITA has announced a partnership with Palo Alto Networks to strengthen cybersecurity measures for critical airport operations. The collaboration introduces…
The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) formally received the KD Kasturi (F-25) on 14 January 2025 following a comprehensive Maintenance, Repair,…
Leonardo has categorically stated that it has not sold, directly or indirectly through third parties, OTO Melara 76/62 guns to…
BIRD Aerosystems has received an order from an African Ministry of Defence to deliver its Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS).…
The Uruguayan Air Force (FAU) and the Ministry of National Defence (MDN) have formalised the purchase of five A-29 Super…
Lockheed Martin, in collaboration with Spain's state-owned shipbuilder Navantia, has conducted a significant test for the AN/SPY-7(V)2 radar system, developed…
RECARO Aircraft Seating (China) Co., Ltd. has been named the 2023-2024 Best Seat Supplier by Japan Airlines (JAL). The recognition…
Fincantieri has finalised the acquisition of Leonardo S.p.A.'s Underwater Armaments & Systems (UAS) division by purchasing the entire share capital…
Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), part of EDGE Group that specialises in the design, construction, and maintenance of naval vessels,…
OAG, a data platform for the global travel industry, has announced its 2024 rankings of the busiest airports worldwide. Tokyo…
Maris-Tech Ltd., a company specialising in video and AI-based edge computing technology, has launched Uranus Ultra, a new 360° 3D…
Motorola Solutions will highlight its advancements in safety and security technologies at Intersec 2025, addressing the diverse needs of enterprises…
Lockheed Martin has appointed OJ Sanchez as vice president and general manager of Skunk Works, and Mike Shoemaker as vice…
L3Harris Technologies has won a U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command contract to design concepts for Phase 0 of the…
TE Connectivity's MULTIGIG HD connector has been selected by the VITA Standards Organization (VSO) as the Next-Generation VPX plug-in module…
Schiebel, a member of the SEACURE consortium led by Thales, has been awarded a grant under the European Defence Fund’s…
EirTrade Aviation, a global aviation asset trading and material management company based in Dublin, has announced the promotion of Lee…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.