An in-flight incident occurred during a training flight for Airbus Military staff, involving an Australian KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft and a Portuguese Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft on January 19, according to a Defence announcement.
Airbus Military was operating the aircraft during the incident and no Australian personnel were on board the MRTT at the time.
The incident resulted in the detachment and partial loss of the refuelling boom from the MRTT, which fell into the sea.
Both aircraft suffered some damage but returned safely to their home airfields.
Design, development and testing of the prototype aircraft is being undertaken by Airbus Military at its facilities in Madrid, Spain, with the support of a multinational team.
The boom will be replaced with a spare that was destined for Australia under the spares contract in support of AIR 5402, which will supply five MRTT aircraft and support/spares to the RAAF.
Another spare boom will be manufactured and provided under the support package.
Airbus Military and the relevant European military airworthiness authorities will have the lead responsibility for investigating the incident.
Australian Defence experts are also participating in the investigation process.