Projects: Missing in action? | ADM June 2011

Julian Kerr | Sydney

Sherlock Holmes may well have dubbed it The Curious Case of the Absent Aircraft, but confusion over an extended delay in the delivery of the first of the RAAF’s five KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transports (MRTTs) has now been clarified, although a firm delivery date has not.

The $1.4 billion contract to replace the RAAF’s five Boeing 707 tanker/transports continues to figure on the government’s list of Projects of Concern. The program is now more than two years behind schedule, and 2011-12 budget papers disclosed that the delays have obliged Defence to return to government $316 million in unspent MRTT funding (see ADM’s budget cover- age on P24 of June ADM for more).

Mixed signals over delivery began when Airbus Military sources said an MRTT would almost certainly be on display at March’s Avalon Air Show. It was not, although Airbus Military executive Damien Allard told ADM at Avalon that the first two aircraft had been ready for delivery since December but were awaiting the completion of contractual negotiations which would occur shortly.

It quickly became apparent, however, that serious differences existed between the manufacturer and the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) over the supply of technical publications and the envelope within which the air-to-air refuelling boom moves when extended. This concern had been reinforced when the third KC¬30A destined for the RAAF lost part of its boom over the Atlantic Ocean on 19 January during a refuelling exercise with a Portuguese air force F-16.

Australian sources close to the program said the MRTT’s technical certification had been withdrawn by INTA, the Spanish National Institute of Aerospace Technology, pending completion of its review of the boom incident. Airbus Military said it had not. A series of negotiations described by well-informed sources as “difficult” took place in Australia in March involving the DMO and Airbus Military CEO Domingo Urena-Raso.

The Airbus Military CEO also met with Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Mark Bin-skin and defence materiel minister Jason Clare, whose office said he had impressed on Urena-Raso “the importance of doing everything necessary to bring this important capability on track”.

Timing

In mid-March Defence said it and Airbus Military were doing everything possible to ensure delivery and acceptance of the first KC-30A by the end of April. But on 28 March Defence said Airbus Military and INTA were working to implement essential changes to the boom system and operating procedures, and the Commonwealth was expecting what was described as an interim contract settlement of the first two aircraft “in the coming months”.

The third and fourth aircraft were expected to be delivered by the end of 2011 and the fifth in late 2012, Defence said. For its part, Airbus Military described the boom incident as “of an operational nature”- generally taken to mean operator error – and not unusual in a delicate manoeuvring environment.

“As is only natural after any incident some lessons were learned, and in order to continuously improve the Airbus Military product, minor modifications were defined and are being implemented,” Airbus Military said. “The few operational limitations requested by the authorities after the incident will then be lifted. The aircraft will be fully operational at delivery, which should not be in the too distant future.”

The company subsequently advised that boom operations with a RAAF KC-30A were successfully resumed on 28 April with a three-hour flight involving a total of 14 ‘dry’ contacts with Portuguese F-16s. Two members of INTA were aboard.

As ADM went to press, Airbus Military said INTA was expected very shortly to lift any limitations it had placed on boom operations. This would presumably strengthen the possibility of the first two RAAF aircraft being delivered sooner rather than later – industry sources suggest late May/ early June - and as fully operational rather than being limited temporarily to hose and drogue and airlift missions. Even the budget papers envisioned the “acceptance of the first two aircraft and associated support system elements in May 2011. IOC is expected in mid-2012 for a demonstrated air logistics (passenger and cargo) and pod (hose and drogue) refuelling capability.” Interestingly, no mention is made of the boom system.

Refuelling

The hose and drogue system mounted on the MRTT’s wings is required to refuel the RAAF’s F/A-18AB classic Hornet and F/A¬18F Super Hornets, while the boom system is needed to refuel Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft and the RAAF’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighters when they are eventually delivered. Speedy recertification of boom operations would also provide reassurance to other MRTT customers.

Again, the budget papers provide some illumination here, detailing that “further refinement of some systems will be needed over the next year to achieve final capability for all military avionics and refuelling systems.”

Although the RAAF is the launch customer for the type, a total of 26 MRTTs are on order – five for Australia, 14 for the UK, four for Saudi Arabia and three for the UAE.

The first of the RAF’s so-called Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft is now in the UK for finalisation prior to delivery before year-end. The first Saudi aircraft will also be delivered in 2011, with another seven deliveries scheduled for 2012 – one Australian, one UK, two Saudi and three UAE.