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Airbus keeping SA informed on its multirole tanker transport

Airbus keeping SA informed on its multirole tanker transport

Photo by Bloomberg

12th May 2015

By: Keith Campbell

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

  

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Airbus Defence and Space, part of the Airbus Group, has confirmed that it has been briefing the South African Department of Defence and the South African Air Force (SAAF) on the progress of the A330 Multirole Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft programme. The SAAF previously operated Boeing 707 aircraft in the tanker and passenger transport roles, but these were retired some years ago, without replacement. This is not a formal marketing programme, but an information sharing activity.

The MRTT, which is based on the A330-200 twin-engined wide-body airliner, has already been ordered by Australia, France, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the UK. It has also been selected by India, Qatar and Spain and by a European consortium composed of the Netherlands, Norway and Poland. It is already in operational service with Australia, the UAE and the UK and reportedly, Saudi Arabia.

"Synergies with South African Airways' fleet of six A330-200s opens the door to reduce costs in the logistics support, maintenance activities and training during the platform's operational life," pointed out Airbus Defence and Space head of defence capability Ian Elliott. The MRTT has up to 80% commonality with the A330-200. "The A330 MRTT would take the South African Air Forces' long-range interventions and peacekeeping operations support to the next level."

With 24 aircraft already in service, the A330 MRTT is now operationally proven. From December 2011 to March this year, these aircraft have accumulated a total of more than 35 000 flying hours in service with their respective air forces.

The MRTT can carry 111 t of fuel. It can also carry a transport payload of 45 t. This can be composed of cargo or cargo and troops, without any need for the aircraft to be reconfigured. Passengers can be carried on the upper deck and cargo in the lower hold. This cargo hold can take eight North Atlantic Treaty Organisation pallets. The passenger deck can accommodate up to 300 troops. The aircraft can also be fitted with a VIP module or equipped to evacuate up to 130 casualties on stretchers.

The aircraft is also fitted with a full suite of defensive aids. "The A330 MRTT gets people there faster and safer," stated UK Royal Air Force 10 squadron commanding officer Wing Commander Jamie Osborne. The aircraft has already established a very high degree of reliability in service.

With a payload of 40 t, an MRTT based at South Africa's Air Force Base Waterkloof (just south of Pretoria) would be able to cover all but a tiny part of the African continent. With a payload of 30 t it would also be able to cover eastern South America, much of Europe, the Middle East, much of Central Asia, South Asia, part of South East Asia and Western Australia. In VIP configuration, it could also reach the east coast of the US.

Elliott highlighted that the aircraft is now "combat proven and fully interoperable," with "more fuel, more offload, more cargo, more passengers, more patients, more availability and more flexibility". He also stressed it is a "true multi role" platform.

Keith Campbell is in Seville as a guest of Airbus Defence and Space.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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