Airbus Defence and Space has signed two contracts valued at € 1.2 billion in total with France’s Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) and Direction de la Maintenance Aéronautique (DMAé) for the Capability Enhancement and the In-Service Support of the French A330 MRTTs (Multi Role Tanker Transport) fleet.
“With this new capability of the aircraft, we are preparing the future by transforming the MRTT into an in-flight communications node, as the first building block of the Multi Role Tanker Transport of tomorrow, embedded in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS)”, said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Military Air Systems at Airbus Defence and Space.
Road to Combat Cloud and FCAS
This new standard, which will be developed incrementally, will improve the A330 MRTTs’ ability to operate in contested environments, while providing them with enhanced communication capabilities with other aircraft and command centers.
Connectivity is one of the key areas to enhance the capabilities of the A330 MRTT Phénix. The first increment of Standard 2 will equip these aircraft with a MELISSA satellite communications antenna, providing access to the French military constellation SYRACUSE IV.
The A330 MRTT Phénix fleet will thus have a high-speed, sovereign and secure communications capability, combined with increased transmission resources for the implementation of the airborne deterrence component. A330 MRTT Phénix will act as a communications node between the C2 (command and control) assets and the surrounding aeronautical network, and will occupy a central position in the aeronautical connectivity system. It will be a centerpiece of the Combat Cloud system that will integrate the various piloted and autonomous elements of the future FCAS sixth-generation combat system.
In addition, the first increment of Standard 2 includes the integration of defensive self-protection systems.
See also: Airbus demonstrates A330 MRTT capability for automatic refueling of F-15 fighter jets
The development work will lead to the qualification of prototypes of all these functions, whose implementation in the fleet will be carried out in synergy with scheduled maintenance activities.
10-year support contract
The second contract covers the in-service support of the “Phénix” fleet for 10 years, plus two optional years, at the Istres air base in southern France, home to the 31st Strategic Air Transport and Refueling Wing. Airbus, as prime contractor, together with its preferred partners in France, will be responsible for fleet modernization, maintenance, logistics and technical support to ensure the aircraft’s operational readiness. The local Airbus team in France will be doubled to support these activities.
The support services introduced under these contracts ensure a level of availability, reactivity and resilience compatible with French Air Force and Strategic Air Force requirements. This includes support for aircraft deployed outside France.
The French Air and Space Force currently operates 12 A330 MRTT “Phénix”, with more than 18,000 flight hours flown. France is the largest A330 MRTT customer with 15 A330 MRTTs ordered.
