RAAF KC-30A refuels F-35A for first time

In a first for the Royal Australian Air Force, an Airbus KC-30A MRTT aircraft has conducted refuelling contacts with a Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter.
The four hour sortie took place from Edwards AFB in California, and saw the KC-30A perform 59 boom contacts. Of these, five contacts were “wet” and included the transfer of 43,200lb of fuel to the USAF F-35A.
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RAAF to get two more A330 MRTT KC-30

It appears likely that the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is to acquire two more Airbus A330 MRTT to add to its current fleet of five, although no formal confirmation is yet available.
A brief comment to this effect - since removed - appeared on the website of the Spanish Embassy in Canberra on 25 June.
The acquisition of an additional two MRTTs (KC-30A in Australian service) was informally forecast by then defence minister David Johnston in August 2014.
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A330 MRTT enters RAAF operational service

Australia's Airbus Military A330 multirole tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft have achieved initial operational capability (IOC), with the type demonstrating an air-to-air refuelling mission on the sidelines of the Avalon show.
The aircraft, designated the KC-30A in Royal Australian Air Force service, refuelled a pair of Boeing F/A-18A Hornets from its wing-mounted hose and drogue refuelling pods. The event was witnessed by journalists travelling in the tanker's cabin.
Australia's air force has taken delivery of all five of its A330 MRTTs. The IOC milestone includes the ability to refuel F/A-18s through the hose and drogue method during daytime and night, as well as carrying a full load of passengers. The type's passenger cabin is identical to that found in Qantas Airways' commercial A330s, although the military aircraft lack an in-flight entertainment system.

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EL PRIMER KC-30A PARA LA RAAF PROXIMO A LA ENTREGA/FIRST KC-30A ON TRACK FOR 2010 HANDOVER

El primer Airbus KC-30A MRTT será entregado oficialmente a la RAAF de Australia, en una ceremonia que se mantendrá en Madrid el próximo 22 de diciembre.
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The first of five Airbus Military KC-30A MRTT is due to be handed over to the RAAF in a ceremony in Madrid on December 22.
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Continúa programa futuro avión cisterna de la RAF/AirTanker: FSTA preparations on track

Los preparativos para continuar con el programa FSTA (Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft), continúan, con la contratación de pilotos e ingernieros para trabajar en los A330-200 modificados.
Un total de 14 aviones estarán basados en RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, desde finales del año 2011.
EADS UK ya ha construído un hangar para tal motivo en Brize Norton, así como oficinas e instalaciones de entrenamiento.
Cinco aviones estarán en servicio en 2013, y el total de 14 lo estará en a mitad del 2014, estando a pleno rendimiento a mitad de 2016.
Ya ha volado un prototipo, y el segundo realizó su roll out en la planta de Airbus Military en Getafe, España, el pasado ocho de Octubre. El resto será preparado por Cobhamm en sus instalaciones del aeropuerto Bournemouth, Dorset, desde el próximo año.
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Preparations to field the UK’s Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) are on track, with the first two sponsored reservist pilots recruited and 11 military engineers having recently been selected to support the Royal Air Force’s fleet of modified Airbus A330-200s.
An eventual 14 of the aircraft will be based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire starting from late next year.
The EADS UK-led AirTanker Services consortium has already managed the construction of a new two-bay hangar at Brize Norton, and associated office and training school facilities are also nearing readiness.
Five aircraft will be in use by early 2013, nine by late 2014 and all 14 delivered by mid-2016, when full service delivery will start.
The UK’s second modified A330 was rolled out at Airbus Military’s Getafe site near Madrid on 8 October, and is expected to be flown soon. Cobham will prepare the remaining 12 at its Bournemouth airport site in Dorset, starting from next year.
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EL A330 cisterna (KC-30) para Australia obtiene la certificación militar/ A330 tanker gains military certification

Airbus Military entregará el primer A330 multi misión a la Royal Australian Air Force en las próxima semanas, tras ser certificado en España por el INTA.
La certificación cubre los sistemas militares añadidos a la versión civil, incluyendo el sistema de bombeo, la percha de trasvase y los depósitos de combustible.
Denominado KC-30A por Australia, el número total que recibirá será de cinco, y serán operados por el 33 Sqn, en Amberley, Queensland. La RAAF retiró el último Boeing 707 de reabastecimiento en Junio de 2008.
Esta certificación refuerza la campaña de promoción que EADS North America realiza para ganar el concurso KC-X, que dotará a la USAF de 179 nuevos aviones cisterna. El modelo presentado para el KC-X, el KC-45, está basado en el KC-30A de Australia. Su rival, Boeing, ofrece el mas pequeño, KC-767.
Los pedidos de A330 cisterna/transporte, incluyen seis unidades para Arabia Saudí, tres para Emiratos Árabes Unidos y 14 para el Reino Unido.
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Airbus Military will deliver its first A330 multi-role tanker transport to the Royal Australian Air Force "in the coming weeks", following its receipt of military certification for the type from Spain's INTA body.
The certification covers the design and operation of all the military systems added to the aircraft in addition to the basic civil design. This includes its aerial refuelling boom system and Cobham 905E underwing hose and drogue refuelling pods.
Locally designated KC-30A, the total fleet of five will be operated by the RAAF's 33 Sqn from Amberley air base, Queensland. The service its last Boeing 707 tanker in June 2008
The military certification receipt will also provide a boost to EADS North America's campaign for the US Air Force's 179-aircraft KC-X tanker deal. The company's KC-45 submission is largely based on the KC-30A model prepared for Australia. Boeing is offering the smaller KC-767 NewGen Tanker.
Airbus Military's orderbook for the A330 tanker/transport also includes six aircraft for Saudi Arabia, three for the United Arab Emirates and 14 for the UK. The type has a maximum fuel load of 111t.
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AIRBUS A330 MRTT/ KC-30A AUSTRALIANO/FIRST AUSTRALIA KC-30A TO PASS FUEL TO ANOTHER 'LARGE AICRAFT'

Según flightgolbal.com, el primer A330 cisterna/transporte de la Real Fuerza Aérea Australiana (RAAF)ha transferido combustible a un avión "grande". Uno de los cinco bajo pedido, designados como KC-30A, transfirió unas 30 tm de combustible a un E-3F AWACS de la Fuerza Aérea Francesa, en un lugar cercano a Getafe, dónde se están llevando a cabo las pruebas. Australia planea aceptar los 2 primeros KC-30A en el último cuarto de este año, con la intención de emplearlos con los Boeing F/A-18A. Los otros tres seguirán en el periodo 2011-12. La RAAF también desea adaptarlo paulatinamente a operaciones con F/A-18F Super Hornet, BAE Systems Hawk 127, Boeing C-17 y Boeing 737 AEW, y quizás en el futuro con el F-35. Los retos a que se enfrenta el KC-30A incluyen el mantenimiento de mantener la capacidad de reabastecimiento en vuelo, después de que el últimob Boeing 707 fuera retirado en Junio de 2008. El KC-30A también está configurado para transportar 272 pasajeros. Otros compradores de esta versión (A330 MRTT), son Arabia Saudí, Reino Unido, Emiratos Árabes Unidos, Canadá y Alemania, y es candidato en concursos de Francia, India y Estados Unidos.
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The Royal Australian Air Force's first Airbus A330-based multirole tanker/transport has for the first time passed fuel to another large aircraft, moving the type closer to its delayed service entry late this year.
One of five RAAF-designated KC-30As on order, the modified airliner transferred almost 30t of fuel from its centreline boom to a French air force Boeing E-3F airborne warning and control system aircraft during two test flights conducted from Airbus Military's Getafe site near Madrid. Australia plans to accept its first two KC-30As in the fourth quarter of this year, with initial clearances being sought to refuel Boeing F/A-18A fighters and other KC-30As. The other three should follow in 2011-12. The RAAF also wants its new tankers to progressively support operations with the F/A-18F Super Hornet, BAE Systems Hawk 127 advanced jet trainer, Boeing C-17 strategic transport and 737-based Wedgetail airborne early warning and control system aircraft, and eventually with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Challenges facing the service's introduction of the KC-30A include maintaining air-to-air refuelling skills after having retired its last Boeing 707 in June 2008. In addition to providing AAR services, Australia's KC-30As are also being configured to carry 272 passengers and below-deck freight.
Other A330 MRTT buyers are Saudi Arabia, the UK and the United Arab Emirates, and to A310 tanker operators Canada and Germany. The A330 is also a candidate to meet requirements in nations including France, India and the USA.