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AirTanker Voyager (A330 MRTT)

2012 MODERN AIRCRAFT

History of AirTanker Voyager (A330 MRTT)

The RAF has long relied on a fleet of Lockheed L-1011 TriStar and Vickers VC10 series aircraft for its in-flight refueling needs - basically commercial airliners modified for their respective roles on the battlefield. However, the L-1011 originated from a 1970 design, and the VC10, which appeared in 1962, wasn't much better. In 2004, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) approved the procurement of the French Airbus A330 MRTT (Multipurpose Tanker Transport) on a 24-year lease, the most advanced militarised variant of the popular A330 - 200 passenger aircraft (Nearly 1,000 prototypes of this aircraft have been built to date.

Types built). The proven airframe will, of course, be modified appropriately for in-flight refueling, including the addition of underwing cone fuel distributors, specialized security military-grade communications equipment, and defensive countermeasures, while serving as a base while refueling equipment is removed of medium air freight.

The initiative falls under the UK's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) programme.

The first MRTT made its maiden flight on June 15, 2007 and was introduced by Airbus on June 1, 2011. The multi-year lease to the Royal Air Force (RAF) is operated by the UK parent company of AirTanker Ltd, a joint venture of the defence forces EADS (European Aeronautical Defence and Space Corporation), Rolls-Royce, Thales, Babcock and Co. Bam's consortium, while the actual supply belongs to the AirTanker Aircraft Supply Division (led by EADS). The deal was officially signed on March 27, 2008, and the first new-build A330-200 MRTT airframes will be delivered by the end of 2011.

While the aircraft is in the RAF inventory, as of May 2013, they have not been released for active duty refueling missions, with the aging L-1011 and VC10 still in active duty. The platform will coordinate with the advanced Eurofighter Typhoon and the old Panavia Tornado, as well as other platforms currently in service with the RAF.

The RAF will receive two different versions of the aircraft, designated "Voyager KC2" and "Voyager KC3". While both will be similarly equipped with a pair of Cobham 905E Series underwing anaesthetics, the KC3 will also house a Cobham 805E Series Fuselage Refueling Unit (FRU), an under-fuselage drogue unit that allows three aircraft to operate simultaneously maintain. The aircraft will retain the basic A330 MRTT form and function, including a forward cockpit, low-set wings and a single vertical tail.

The underwing pods are usually mounted on the outside of the engine nacelles and are equipped with British Rolls-Royce Trent 772B-60 series turbofan engines, each of which is expected to produce 72,000 pounds of thrust. Each plane will carry 240,000 pounds of fuel, travel up to 40,000 feet, and stay for nearly two hours. Currently (2013) a total of 14 Voyagers are on order for the RAF, of which 7 are KC2s and the remaining 7 are KC3s.

At the beginning of 2013, the RAF had about 3 airframes in the RAF, and it is expected that 9 airframes will form a complete fleet, and the rest will be retained and put into service as needed.

The

AirTanker/A330 MRTT joint venture is an interesting venture that allows the military air force to lease critical logistics aircraft as needed, with the cost shared by other world powers. As a result, RAF airframes can be supplied to other European powers through NATO, with maintenance and operating costs remaining within a 24-year lifespan.

The move comes at an interesting time for Europe, where the lack of viable, proven carrier-based tankers has proven strategically flawed in far-flung missions, such as the French intervention in Mali - where America's sprawling Air Force currently has There is no such defect.