Airbus Defence and Space has welcomed the Defence Materiel Organisation’s decision to remove the KC-30A multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) from the Projects of Concern (POC) List.
The Minister for Defence, Kevin Andrews, said today he was pleased that the aircraft had been removed from the POC List after effectively being remediated.
The launch customer for the international military’s hi-tech tanker-transport of choice, the RAAF now has all five ordered KC-30A’s in service.
Known as Project Air 5402, the KC-30A MRTT was placed on the Projects of Concern list in February 2010, following delays in deliveries of the big air-to-air refueller due to issues with its revolutionary Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS).
According to Acting Chief Executive Officer, Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), Mr. Harry Dunstall, an extensive development and testing program had identified and resolved the ARBS issues and Defence had formally accepted the capability.
Said Mr. Dunstall: “Airbus Defence and Space has worked collaboratively with us to address our concerns and I would like to recognise and thank Airbus for their efforts,” he said. “This is a great example of the effectiveness of the Projects of Concern process in remediating troubled projects”.
Welcoming the announcement, Airbus Defence and Space’s Head of Programmes Medium&Light and Derivatives, Kurt Rossner, said: “Like many high-tech, complex weapons systems, the KC-30A MRTT’s introduction to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has been a protracted evolution. However, we now have confirmation that these aircraft are regarded highly by RAAF pilots and support crews as capable, efficient and reliable aircraft by virtue of their modern avionics, advanced performance and flight characteristic”.
The KC-30A MRTT has already proved itself as a potent battlefield capability for the ADF, conducting hose and drogue in-flight refuelling for the RAAF since 2011, and now being used to great effect supporting Coalition combat aircraft in Middle East operations. The RAAF will now start a testing phase to achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC) of the Aerial Refuelling Boom System during 2015.
To date, some 35 Airbus A330 MRTT tanker-transports have been ordered of which 22 have been delivered.