At a press briefing today, Didier Vernet, Head of Market Development for Airbus Military presented some of company's key products and solutions and elaborated on the A330MRTT that has been ordered in the region by the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The A330 MRTT solution: a market success
Having won 28 orders from four customers, including a repeat order, the A330 MRTT leadership in this market segment has been clearly demonstrated. After the first customer, the Commonwealth of Australia, Second to order was the Saudi Ministry of Defence (MODA) when it announced its decision, in December 2007, to acquire three A330 MRTTs to become the new air-to-air refuelling aircraft of the Royal Saudi Air Force. Saudi became the first customer to place a repeat order for three additional aircraft in July 2009. All are also to be equipped with the advanced Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) as well as two Cobham 905E under-wing hose and drogue pods.
This move was followed, in January 2008, by the government of the United Arab Emirates which signed a contract for three A330 MRTTs. The configuration of these aircraft is similar to those of Australia and Saudi Arabia, with under-wing pods and the ARBS.
The superior performance of the A330 MRTT new generation strategic tanker/transport aircraft in both air-to-air refuelling and transport capabilities was a major factor and some missions studied show benefits of up to 40 per cent compared to competitors.
The A400M: the versatile airlifter for the 21st Century
The A400M can perform missions which previously required two - or more - different types of aircraft, and which even then provided an imperfect solution.
The A400M can carry numerous items of outsize cargo including, for example, an NH90 or a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, or two Stryker infantry carrier vehicles (ICV) for military purposes. It can also carry a semi-articulated truck with a 6m / 20ft container, or a rescue boat, or large lifting devices, such as excavators or mobile cranes needed to assist in disaster relief.
Humanitarian Aid: Furthermore, the A400M is the only airlifter that can fly these items directly to the site of action thanks to its unique landing characteristics. The A400M is able to land on, and take-off from, short, soft and rough unprepared airstrips meeting the CBR6 standard. These characteristics allow it to ensure, for example, that swift humanitarian aid can arrive on the spot in the very short timeframe needed after a disaster.
Respond to crises: Flying faster and higher, it can respond more rapidly to crises, because greater distances can be flown in a one crew duty day. It is hence much more efficient than its predecessors. Also, as it can fly higher, it can cruise above turbulence, resulting in less fatigue for the crews, and passengers or troops alike.
Quick reuelling: Being able to fly at higher altitudes and faster, it is also an ideal tanker aircraft to refuel military fast jets (fighters) and other large aircraft at speeds of up to 300kt indicated air speed (IAS) at 25,000ft. But because of its low speed performance, it can equally well refuel helicopters at 110kt up to 5,000ft.
Paratrooping: The A400M excels in the paratrooping role, being able to drop from both high and low altitudes, (as high as 40,000 ft for special forces' operations, and as low as 15ft for low level load deliveries). It can carry 116 fully equipped paratroops, who can jump two at a time from the ramp or through the paratroop side doors. This simultaneous jumping capability results from the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft and allows the teams to arrive on the ground closer together and hence to be operational faster.
Self Protection: Finally, the A400M has been specifically designed for low detectability, low vulnerability and high survivability, giving it excellent self-protection. With clean and minimised infra-red signature engines, highly responsive fly-by-wire flight controls, four independent control computers, comprehensive defensive aids, cockpit armouring and damage tolerant controls, the A400M is hard to find, hard to hit and hard to kill.
Bigger and Faster: Overall, the versatile A400M can do the job of three aircraft in one, hence doing more with less. Being bigger, it can carry more payload in less flights. Being faster, it can fly more distances and missions in the same timeframe. In summary, with less aircraft, the operator can do more, ensuring greatest investment and cost effectiveness.
-Ends-
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Preeta Iyer: Mobile: +971 55 834 7586
© Press Release 2011
