The Royal Australian Air Force has taken delivery of its fourth Airbus Military A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft.
The aircraft was delivered to the RAAF in Madrid, said Airbus Military. It will remain in Spain for testing before eventual delivery to RAAF base Amberley. The fifth and final aircraft will be delivered in the third quarter of 2012.
In RAAF service the A330 MRTT is designated as the KC-30A. It has underwing refuelling pods, the fly-by-wire Airbus Aerial Refueling Boom System ARBS), and a Universal Refueling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI) that enables it to be refuelled from another tanker.
The aircraft can carry 270 passengers and will be equippped with a directional infrared counteremeasures (DIRCM) system. It is powered by two General Electric CF6-80E engines.
Source: Flight International
