급유기 에어버스, 자동공중급유 시험 완료

[위종민]

에어버스가 싱가포르 공군과의 협력 하에 A330-200 MRTT의 자동공중급유 시스템 시험을 완료했다고 10월 11일 발표했습니다. 

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/airbus-completes-a3r-automatic-aerial-refuelling-trials/

Airbus completes A3R automatic aerial refuelling trials

Airbus completes A3R automatic aerial refuelling trials

11 OCTOBER 2023

by Gareth Jennings

A Republic of Singapore Air Force F-15SG Eagle combat aircraft connects to an MRTT tanker during A3R testing in August. (Airbus)

Airbus Defence and Space (DS) has completed trials of the automatic air-to-air refuelling (A3R) system for its A330-200 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft.

Announced on 11 October, the completion of testing was carried out in conjunction with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), which utilised one of its own MRTTs along with its full fleet of receiver aircraft types in a series of ‘wet' and ‘dry' (with and without fuel being passed, respectively) contacts over the course of three weeks in August.

As noted in the announcement, the tests were conducted in all-weather conditions, and in day and night hours.

News of the competition of testing came about 15 months after the Spanish National Institute for Aerospace Technology (Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial: INTA) granted certification for the A3R capability for daylight operations.