The first-ever air-to-air refuelling (AAR) of Eurofighter has been successfully completed in a trial jointly managed by the DERA (Stand B114) and BAe.
Eurofighter and a British Aerospace VC10K Mk3 tanker completed a series of tests over the Irish Sea in mid-January.
Working closely with the Eurofighter flight test team, fuel supply specialists and flight operations at BAe Warton, DERA claims to have generated a handling and systems clearance for AAR which permits the extension of sorties during the development programme.
DERA, an agency of the British Ministry of Defence, is responsible for providing clearance recommendations for all AAR operations involving UK military aircraft.
The agency is also using Asian Aerospace '98 to highlight recent progress in cutting pollution - both noise and exhaust emissions. Working with several European manufacturers, DERA believes it is leading the way in addressing the concerns that the aerospace industry is a potential contributor to global warming through the emission of greenhouse gases.
On the noise front, the approach is to identify key noise sources and develop technology to reduce levels at source.
Several major projects are underway, with results expected in a few years' time.
Source: Flight Daily News