On January 28, President Jair Bolsonaro announced, live, the acquisition of two Airbus A330 aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The President actually mentioned “A230”, however that model does not exist.
Still on the live, the president mentioned that the aircraft will be purchased with resources redeemed through Operation Lava Jato. If the acquisition goes through, the FAB will finally close the gap left by the retirement of the old Boeing KC-137s.
Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport
O DO NOT MRTT it is the militarized version of the A330-200 commercial aircraft. The acronym MRT stands for Multi Role Tanker Transport and makes clear the two missions of the aircraft: in-flight refueling and transport.
As a tanker, the A330 can carry 111 tonnes of fuel, without additional tanks. According to Airbus, this is the largest capacity of any tanker in service.
The aircraft can perform in-flight refueling (REVO) with the boom and receiver (flying boom) ou basket and probe (probe and drogue), the latter being the system employed by the FAB. However, the aircraft can only be refueled by boom, through the Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI).
The aircraft can combine the systems by installing Airbus' own flying boom (Airbus Military Aerial Refueling Boom System, ARBS) and REVO pods Cobham 905E on the wings as shown in the photo below.
This is the most common configuration so far, as it logically allows refueling of aircraft using both systems. As an example, we can mention the European scenario itself, where there is a large number of fighters F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-35 Lightning II (both European and US operators) and F-15 Eagle/Strike Eagle, which use the flying spear, while the others use basket and probe.
Through the flying boom, the A330 MRTT can transfer up to 3600 kilograms of fuel per minute. The 905E pods transfer 1300 kilograms of fuel per minute, while the FRU-805E transfers 1.800 kilograms per minute.
For customers who are not interested in the flying boom system, the aircraft can receive the Fuselage Refueling Unit (FRU), which consists of a Cobham 805E pod installed internally in the tail of the aircraft, allowing the simultaneous refueling of up to three small aircraft, such as fighters.
O MRTT it can carry up to 45 tons of cargo, in addition to 380 engers in a single class. The aircraft can also be used in aeromedical evacuation missions (MEDVAC) carrying 130 ordinary stretchers, or 40 stretchers, 20 seats for medical staff and 100 engers.
The aircraft can also receive a crew rest module or be converted to VIP/Presidential transport, as was done by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in one of its Voyager KC.Mk 3.
The aircraft was configured to transport the British Royal Family and/or high-ranking of the government, such as the Prime Minister.
The aircraft's cargo holds were modified to allow the use of both civilian and military containers and pallets. Cargo and enger configurations are fully configurable according to the needs of each mission, which shows the great flexibility of the model.
Operators
So far, 61 aircraft have been ordered by seven different countries plus the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). By November last year, 46 aircraft had already been delivered to their respective customers.
The A330 MRTT is already operated in the air forces of , Saudi Arabia, Australia, United Kingdom, Singapore, South Korea, United Arab Emirates. Qatar also acquired the aircraft and is awaiting the delivery of its first unit.
NATO aircraft will be operated through the program Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet. Six countries (Belgium, Czechia, , Luxembourg, Norway and Holland) participate in the agreement for the mutual operation of the Organization's aircraft.
The Ejercito del Aire (Spanish Air Force) will convert three A330s purchased from the airline Iberia into MRTT.
The need for the FAB
In 2013 the FAB officially retired its four Boeing KC-137E (707-300C), in service since the 80s and purchased used from VARIG. With the departure of the “Scraps”, as they were popularly (and maliciously) called, the need for a new aircraft was created to fulfill the transport and refueling missions in long-range flights.
Through the KC-X2 Program, the FAB began the search for a replacement. The A330 MRTT was one of the options, however, in May 2013 the Air Force Command chose the Boeing 767. Two aircraft would be converted into tankers by Israel Aerospace Industries, the same process carried out by the Colombian Air Force.
However, the contract did not go ahead and the gap remained. Between 2016 and 2019, the FAB leased 767-300ERs, designated C-767 and ed as FAB 2900. During this period, the FAB partially closed the gap, being able to carry out long-range transport missions, however, the lack of a refueler remains.
Currently, FAB's REVO aircraft are the two KC-130M registrations 2461 and 62.
O KC-390 Millennium has already carried out refueling tests with the F-5EM/FM Tiger II and A-1A/B/AM/BM AMX, but it still does not fly these missions operationally. This should happen soon, as the aircraft is being deployed in the FAB.
However, the KC-130 and KC-390 are tactical aircraft, not having the same range, range and fuel carrying capacity as the already retired KC-137 and its future replacement. They are aircraft with different functions.
The possible acquisition of the two units of the A330 MRTT mentioned by President Bolsonaro at the end of last month can finally fill the gap opened since 2013, greatly increasing the Brazilian Air Force's transport and in-flight refueling capabilities.
An Air Force is made of many things…. but nothing can replace its aircraft – existing or necessary: they are what will guarantee continuous evolution and permanent operational readiness. pic.twitter.com/brLZhCBz7p
— Brigadier Baptista Jr (@CBaptistaJr) February 6, 2021
