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The Royal Australian Air Force's KC-30B Multi-role
Tanker/Transport completed its first flight today several weeks ahead
of the planned flight test schedule, marking a major milestone in
EADS' development of the world's most advanced aerial tanker platform.
In addition, the aircraft will also make its public debut during next
week's Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport.
The 3-hour flight conducted with the EADS advanced boom installed
marks the beginning of in-flight validation testing - ultimately
including refueling contacts with a variety of receiver aircraft -
prior to the KC-30B's delivery to the Royal Australian Air Force's 33
Squadron.
"The successful first flight of the Australian A330 tanker, ahead
of schedule, marks another significant milestone in the KC-30B MRTT
program, taking this superb aircraft one step closer to its service
entry with the Royal Australian Air Force," said John H. Young, Jr.,
CEO of EADS North America Tankers - a business unit of EADS North
America. "The advances of this program directly benefit the Northrop
Grumman KC-30 Tanker that is being offered as a replacement for the
U.S. Air Force KC-135."
The KC-30B is equipped with the EADS fly-by-wire Aerial Refueling
Boom System, along with two underwing hose and drogue refueling pods.
The advanced centerline boom and underwing pod combination enables the
Royal Australian Air Force to support its own fighters, airlifters and
AWACS assets, while also offering full aerial refueling compatibility
with U.S., NATO and allied military aircraft.
EADS' all-electric Aerial Refueling Boom System provides highly
accurate, reliable in-flight refueling, with a maximum nominal fuel
flow rate of 1,200 U.S. gallons per minute. A high resolution,
panoramic and 3D-vision surveillance system enables the boom operator
to remotely control boom operations from the cockpit during air-to-air
refueling during daylight or nighttime operations.
Five KC-30Bs have been ordered by Australia, and these aircraft
have a high degree of commonality with the KC-30 Tanker - which is
proposed by Northrop Grumman for the recapitalization of the U.S. Air
Force's aging tanker fleet. This commonality ensures a low-risk
approach for the Air Force tanker program.
The KC-30 multi-role tanker/transport family is derived from the
highly popular A330 jetliner. To date, more than 700 A330s have been
ordered for civil, military and government customers, and the
aircraft's production rate is increasing to meet a growing
international demand.
In addition to its acquisition by the Royal Australian Air Force,
the A330-based tanker also has been ordered by the United Arab
Emirates, and is selected by Britain for the Royal Air Force's
replacement of its VC10 and TriStar tanker/transport fleet. This marks
the aircraft's sweep of all recent international competitions for
next-generation aerial refueling aircraft.
About EADS North America (www.eadsnorthamerica.com)
EADS North America is the North American operations of EADS, the
second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. As a leader
in all sectors of defense and homeland security, EADS North America
and its parent company, EADS, contribute over $10 billion to the U.S.
economy annually and support more than 190,000 American jobs through
its network of suppliers and services. With 12 operating companies
located in 30 cities and 17 states, EADS North America offers a broad
array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial,
homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.
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