EADS CASA Multi Role Transport and Air Refuelling Solutions for Airbus Derivatives
Madrid, 29 April 2002
EADS CASA is responsible within EADS for all military transport aircraft derivatives, including the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT). EADS CASA has been working for two yeas now on the development of air to air refuelling solutions to provide the wide body Airbus family (A310 / A330 / A340) with a high quality, flexible, low risk and cost-effective product to meet short and mid term tanking requirements.
EADS CASA covers the full range of skills required to design, develop, manufacture, test and certify state-of-the-art Tanker Kits to be installed in Airbus platforms matching customer requirements. Three are the main different configurations available at present:
* One point tanker, based on air refuelling fuselage hose/drogue
* Two point tanker, consisting of two under-wing air refuelling pods
* Three point tanker, including two under-wing air refuelling pods and one centre fuselage hose/drogue.
There will be a fourth option available from 2005 on. EADS CASA launched in November 2001 a development programme for an Advanced Air Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) to support the firm decision of EADS to enter the air-to-air refuelling market covering the whole range of products (tanker capability based on pods, FRU/HDU and boom).
This entirely new boom will have the advantage of offering the latest technology available and the most modern solutions at the time. Besides an advanced air refuelling boom main structure, it will have a fly-by-wire control with a larger refuelling envelope and controllability, including an automatic load alleviation system. A seated boom operator located at the Fuel Operator Station, close to the cockpit, will control an artificial 3D-vision surveillance system during the entire process. The maximum fuel flow will be around 1200 US gal./min. The design will include a night vision compatibility system, a release and retract system with redundant hoist and lock, and independent disconnection capability.
The Spanish company CESA, an important supplier of parts for the aerospace industry, will act as the main subcontractor in this project.
EADS CASA is currently involved in two different programmes based on military derivatives of Airbus A 310. One, acting as the main contractor, is the recent acquisition of two Airbus A 310 to be transformed into VIP versions for the Spanish Air Force with first aircraft delivery to the customer by the end of September 2002, and the other, the conversion into tanker of four Airbus A 310 MRT by the German Air. For this programme Airbus/Lufthansa Technik is the main contractor, acting EADS CASA as the subcontractor responsible for the Tanker Kit design and production with delivery for installation on first aircraft in November 2002.
EADS CASA is leading the A330-MRTT fitted for purpose aircraft within the AirTanker Consortium competing for the U.K. Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) Programme.
Five leading aerospace and defence companies joined forces to form AirTanker to bid for the UK Ministry of Defence’s £9 billion Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) programme. The consortium includes the European Aeronautic, Defence and Space Company (EADS), Rolls Royce, Cobham, Brown & Root Services, and Thales ( 20% each). The FSTA programme is a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) to replace the RAF’s ageing VC10 and TriStar tankers with a complete air-to-air refuelling and air transport service provided by industry. AirTanker’s proposal is based on the latest generation of Airbus wide-bodied A 330 aircraft.
The proposed solution based on the A330 aircraft is equipped with hose and drogue pods under the wings, a hose and drogue unit (HDU) in the lower centre fuselage position, video monitoring system, air-to-air rendezvous & operational lighting system with IR capability, fuel operator station, military avionics and a full range of defensive aids suite (DAS) options.
Thanks to the flexibility provided by this new generation of transport/tankers, together with the low LCC, reliability and dependability inherent to all Airbus products, these MRTT aircraft will bring into the market a wider spectrum of choices that at the present is very much limited.
EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (www.eads.net) is the largest European aerospace company and the No 2 worldwide. The company has a workforce of 102,967 (end of 2001). It is active in the sectors of commercial aircraft, helicopters, space, military transport and combat aircraft as well as defence technology and services. Among others, EADS holds 80 percent of Airbus, 75 percent of the space company Astrium, 100 percent of the helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter, 43 percent in the Eurofighter programme and 37.5 percent in the missile company MBDA.
For further information contact:
Eduardo Galicia
+34 91 585 7789
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EADS CASA
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