CANBERRA, Australia, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- A third Airbus Military A330 MRTT multi-role tanker/transport has been formally handed over to the Royal Australian Air Force.
The delivery of the aircraft to RAAF Base Amberley, in the state of Queensland, marks another major milestone for the A330 MRTT program and the advanced air-to-air tanker aircraft, designated the KC-30A in Australian military service.
The first two KC-30As were delivered in June, Australia's Department of Defense said.
The aircraft delivered was the third of five MRTTs ordered by the RAAF. As with the first two aircraft delivered in June, this MRTT was also converted from an Airbus A330 commercial passenger jet to a military tanker/transport by Qantas Defense Services at the Australian MRTT Conversion Center at Brisbane Airport.
With three MRTTs now in RAAF fleet service, a fourth -- actually the first to be converted but at Airbus Military's headquarters in Spain -- will be handed over in Madrid in December.
The fifth and final aircraft, which arrived in Brisbane for conversion some weeks ago, will be delivered next year.
All five A330 MRTTs were acquired under the AIR 5402 program to provide the Australian military with what is the world's only certified and flying new generation tanker/transport aircraft. The A330 has also been ordered by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Britain.
In RAAF service, the aircraft are equipped with two underwing refueling pods, the fly-by-wire Airbus Military Aerial Refueling Boom System and a Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle Slipway Installation, enabling it to be refueled from another tanker.
The aircraft are powered by two General Electric CF6-80E engines equipped with a comprehensive defensive aids suite and fitted with 270 passenger seats.
Having received its supplemental type certificate from European civil certification Authority EASA in March 2010 and military certification from Spanish Authority INTA in October 2010, the Airbus Military A330 MRTT is the only new generation strategic tanker/transport aircraft flying and available today.
The 245,000-pound basic fuel capacity of the A330-200 airliner, from which it is derived, enables the A330 MRTT to excel in air-to-air refueling missions without the need for any additional fuel tank.
The A330 MRTT is offered with a choice of proven air-to-air refueling systems, including an advanced Airbus Military Aerial Refueling Boom System and/or a pair of under-wing hose and drogue pods and/or a fuselage refueling Unit.
The A330 MRTT can also be used as a transport aircraft able to carry 300 troops or a payload of as much as 99,000 pounds. It can also easily be converted to accommodate up to 130 stretchers for medical evacuation.
