Airbus A310 MRTT

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A310 MRTT / A310 MRT
A310 MRTT of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) ready for air to air refuelling
Role Multi-role tanker/transport
Manufacturer Airbus Military SAS,
Airbus Deutschland,
Lufthansa Technik[1]
Designer Airbus Military SAS
First flight December 2003[1]
Introduction October 2004[1]
Status Active service
Primary users German Air Force (4)[1]
Royal Canadian Air Force (2)[1]
Number built 6,[2] (from existing A310-300C airframes)
Developed from Airbus A310-300C[1]
Variants Airbus CC-150 Polaris

The Airbus A310 MRTT Multi-Role Tanker Transport

air-to-air refuelling, or in-flight refuelling tanker transport aircraft, capable of operating multi-role missions. The A310 MRTT tanker aircraft is a subsequent development from the earlier Airbus A310 MRT Multi-Role Transport, which was a military transport aircraft for passengers, cargo, and medical evacuation. The A310 MRT and A310 MRTT are both specialist military conversions of existing airframes of the civilian Airbus A310-300C wide-bodied passenger jet airliner.[3][4]

Airbus A310 MRTT

Design and development

Sectioned scale model of the Luftwaffe A310 MRT, demonstrating its multi-role fitment showing the MedEvac intensive care units, with conventional passenger seating aft.
Main deck cargo door (port side) open on Luftwaffe A310 MRT 10+25
MedEvac version of Luftwaffe A310 MRT
Interior of MedEvac version of Luftwaffe A310 MRT
A MedEvac intensive care unit as used by the Luftwaffe in their A310 MRT
Flight Refuelling Ltd (FRL) Mk32B pods close to the wingtips
.
Close-up of the rear of the FRL Mk32B pods on the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CC-150 Polaris.
EADS, 2008

The Airbus A310 MRTT Multi-Role Tanker Transport is a military derivative of the Airbus A310-300C twin-jet wide-bodied jet airliner. The A310 MRTT was primarily designed for military use as a multi-role air-to-air refuelling tanker, cargo transport, passenger transport, and aeromedical evacuation (MedEvac) aircraft.[1]

The aircraft are

Airbus Industrie and EADS subsidiary Airbus Military SAS, along with their subcontractors, which included Airbus Deutschland and Lufthansa Technik.[1]
The conversion from the A310 MRT involves:

The design of the in-flight refuelling pod and wing reinforcements and systems was subcontracted to ITD SA, at that time part of the

Industria de Turbo Propulsores
(ITP) Group.

When not used as an in-flight refueller, i.e., in an air cargo role, the A310 MRTT is capable of carrying a non-fuel payload of up to 37 tonnes (36 long tons; 41 short tons), or 81,600 lb. When used in a troop transport role, the A310 MRTT can accommodate up to 214 seats. And for a mixed-use combined troop transport and cargo, it can carry 54 troops and 12 pallets.[1] The A310 MRTT contains four separate cargo systems within the fuselage, including the main deck cargo compartment, which is loaded and unloaded via the vertically opening main deck cargo door, located on the front left (port) side. This means that main deck cargo can be loaded by overhead crane, in addition to conventional cargo loading platforms. Below deck are three more cargo compartments, and can accommodate container and palletised loads up to 96 inches (2,400 millimetres) in height.[1]

When used in the aero-medical MedEvac role, the A310 MRTT can accommodate up to six intensive care units, together with 56 conventional stretchers.[1]

Operated by a

centre of gravity in flight.[1]

The dual hose and drogue system was supplied by

Flight Refuelling Ltd (FRL) of England, and uses the Mk32B pods under each wing on pylons, close to the wingtips. Two receiver aircraft can be refuelled simultaneously, and is capable of delivering 15,000 litres (3,300 imperial gallons; 4,000 US gallons) per minute.[1]

The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) was the first customer for the MRTT, converting four of their seven existing A310 MRTs, with deliveries starting in October 2004. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) converted two of their five existing A310 MRTs to MRTT configuration, which are known as the CC-150 Polaris in Canadian service, the first also delivered October 2004.[1]

During June 2007,

EADS delivered the first upgraded A310 MRTT with new mission avionics to the German Air Force. This new mission avionics suite facilitated the allocation of the upgraded A310 MRTT to NATO Reaction Forces.[1]

While the original and current A310 MRTTs rely on probe and drogue for air-to-air refuelling, EADS has invested

imperial gallons) per minute, and is supplied by two hose drum units (HDU) centrally mounted side by side in the rear fuselage.[1]

The A310 MRTT is 30% smaller by

VIP transport, or other uses; and lacking only the capacity to land on rough strips to qualify as a strategic transport. Airbus hopes to sell it to some of the countries that need to replace the aging Boeing 707s
they use as tankers.

The first operational use with the German Luftwaffe took place on 4 February 2009; 15 years ago (2009-02-04), when three German

Arabic: قاعدة الظفرة الجوية) in the United Arab Emirates. The objective of the deployment to India was to demonstrate the Eurofighter in a competition for Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), against competition from the Mikoyan MiG-35, the Saab Gripen, the Lockheed Martin F-16, the Boeing F-18E / F, and the Dassault Rafale.[6]

Pakistan has also ordered MRTT capability built on an A310, although the aircraft is no longer in production.[7]

Specifications (A310 MRTT)

Data from Airforce-Technology.com[1] Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide 5th ed.[8]

General characteristics

  • Crew: Three (hose and drogue) or four (flying boom) flight crew (two
    pilots
    and other flight crew)
  • Capacity: 214 passengers / 40,000 kg (88,000 lb) deliverable fuel / 36,000 kg (79,000 lb) cargo
  • Length: 47.4 m (155 ft 6 in)
  • Wingspan: 43.9 m (144 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 15.81 m (51 ft 10 in)
  • Empty weight: 113,999 kg (251,325 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 164,000 kg (361,558 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 ×
    Pratt & Whitney PW4152 turbofan jet engines
    , 262 kN (59,000 lbf) thrust each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 978 km/h (608 mph, 528 kn)
  • Maximum speed: Mach 0.79
  • Range: 8,889 km (5,523 mi, 4,800 nmi)
  • Ferry range: 13,000 km (8,100 mi, 7,000 nmi)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Airbus A310 MRTT Multi-Role Tanker Transport". Airforce-Technology.com. London: Airforce Technology – Verdict Media Limited. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Airbus; Orders, Deliveries, In Operation Military aircraft by Country - Worldwide" (PDF). www.Airbus.com. Airbus. 31 January 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 April 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  3. ^
    German Aerospace Centre
    (DLR). Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  4. ^ Pallini, Thomas. "Airbus just beat Boeing to be the first to complete a wholly automated air-to-air refueling operation". Business Insider. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  5. ^ Kaminski-Morrow, David. "Airbus to close A300 and A310 production line". Flight Global. Flight International. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Eurofighter der Luftwaffe treffen zur Aero India in Bangalore ein" [Luftwaffe Eurofighters arrive for Aero India in Bangalore]. www.FlugRevue.de (in German). Flug Revue. 5 February 2009. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
  7. ^ "Pakistan Eyes Boost in Transport, Lift". www.DefenseNews.com. Defense News. 3 November 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2009.[dead link]
  8. ^ Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide 5th ed. 2007, p.420.

External links

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