Communication and mission system upgrade for RAAF MRTT fleet

Airbus will develop a Communications and Mission System modernisation upgrade for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) fleet. The work, which meets Air Force interoperability needs under its new operational requirements, will mainly cover a retrofit package, which includes new and additional Communications Capabilities and Enhanced Mission Systems, bringing it up to the latest enhanced A330 MRTT standard.

Split across two contracts, Airbus will carry out the design and systems development and integration in Phase 1, ahead of the Critical Design Review maturity gate. In Phase 2, Airbus will install and deliver a prototype KC-30 aircraft for use in the certification and qualification process, before finalising and supplying the modification kits for the entire fleet. Subsequent retrofit to the remainder of the fleet will be under customer responsibility.

The upgrade aims to provide an affordable solution which brings the RAAF KC-30A fleet up to the required quality and capability standards to meet the latest interoperability requirements for the Australian Defence Force and its allies.

Image credit: Airbus