Airbus Defence & Space has completed the latest phase of an in-flight refuelling test campaign involving its A400M and a pair of combat search and rescue helicopters, and says certification approval for the tanker enhancement is expected late this year.
Some 81 “wet” contacts were made between the Atlas and two French air force Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracals, with a total fuel transfer of 6.5t, the company says. For the first time, this included both rotorcraft – operated by test pilots from the nation’s DGA defence procurement agency – receiving fuel at the same time.
Two Caracals were refuelled simultaneously for the first time during test campaign
“The campaign took place in day and night conditions over the west coast of France at between 1,000ft and 10,000ft and flight speeds as low as 105kt [185km/h],” it says.
Its activity completed “the majority of its development and certification objectives”, the company notes, and “confirmed the positive results of the dry and wet contact operations conducted in 2019 and 2020”.
Airbus notes that the A400M “is certified as standard to be quickly configured as a tanker”. A baseline fuel load of up to 50.8t carried in the wing and centre wingbox can be augmented through the installation of two cargo hold tanks, each with a 5.7t capacity.
The company says it “aims to achieve full helicopter air-to-air refuelling certification later this year, with the conclusion of all mandatory night operation trials”. It notes that this functionality is “key for special forces operations”.
H225M Caracal operations will be expanded by using in-flight refuelling support from the Atlas
“With this [helicopter] capability the A400M becomes one of the few tanker aircraft in the world capable of such operations,” it adds.
The DGA on 16 April announced the receipt of France’s 18th A400M, from a 50-unit order. With the registration 0110, it is the nation’s first example to have been transferred with the cargo hold tank enhancement.
France’s 18th Atlas has been supplied with centre hold tanks installed
It also is cleared to drop up to 116 paratroops in a single pass from its side doors. Previous examples were restricted to deploying a maximum of 30 from one door, the DGA notes.
The new aircraft also is cleared to perform automatic terrain-following operations in visual meteorological conditions: a capability claimed by Airbus as “a world first for a transport aircraft”. An extended capability, enabling such low-level flights also to be conducted in instrument meteorological conditions, is due to be approved this year.
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