12 October 2020

Airbus selected to upgrade communications and mission systems on RAAF's KC-30A MRTTs

by Gabriel Dominguez

Airbus announced on 12 October that it has been selected by Australia to develop a communications and mission system upgrade for the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF’s) current fleet of seven A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, which are known as KC-30A MRTTs in RAAF service.

The scope of the work, which is designed to meet the RAAF’s interoperability needs under the service’s new operational requirements, will mainly cover a retrofit package that will include new and additional communications capabilities and enhanced mission systems, and will bring the aircraft up to the latest enhanced A330 MRTT standard, the company said in a statement.

Split across two contracts, Phase 1 will see Airbus carry out the design and systems development and integration ahead of the critical design review maturity gate.

Phase 2 will see the company install and deliver a prototype KC-30 aircraft for use in the certification and qualification process, ahead of finalising and supplying the modification kits for entire fleet.

Subsequent retrofit to the remainder of the fleet will be under customer responsibility, said Airbus.

A RAAF KC-30A MRTT. Airbus announced on 12 October that it has been selected by Australia to develop a communications and mission system upgrade for the RAAF’s current fleet of seven KC-30A MRTTs. (Airbus)

Airbus also said it will provide the necessary data packs and support to ensure this upgrade features in the existing RAAF A330 MRTT Full Flight Simulator (FFS), the Integrated Procedures Trainer (IPT), and the Remote Air Refuelling Operator (RARO) Console Part Task trainer (PTT).

Airbus announced on 12 October that it has been selected by Australia to develop a communications an...

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