Airbus A330 Tanker Approved for Automatic Refueling

The Singapore government has backed Airbus efforts to achieve what it says is the world’s first full certification for automatic air-to-air refueling (A3R) capability with the A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).

On Tuesday, the European manufacturer reported that Spain’s National Institute for Aerospace Technology issued the approval following a qualification and flight-test campaign conducted with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA).

The RSAF has become the first air force to introduce A3R for its fleet of A330 MRTTs, which are operated by the service’s 112 Squadron. According to Airbus, the approval marks a key milestone in the aircraft’s ongoing development, with the A3R system having confirmed its maturity, safety, and reliability across multiple mission profiles.

According to DSTA chief executive Ng Chad-son, Singapore’s MRTT fleet can now perform automatic refueling during the day and at night. “DSTA worked very closely with RSAF and Airbus to advance innovation, enhance safety, and reduce crew workload,” he explained.

The A3R combines automation and computer vision technologies to detect, track, and engage aircraft set to receive fuel, without the need for manual input. According to Airbus, the reduced operator workload both enhances safety and makes for greater operational flexibility.

Airbus, RSAF, and DSTA started collaborating on the A3R capability for the MRTT in 2020. For flight trials conducted in both Spain and Singapore, the RSAF provided its A330s plus F-16 and F-15 fighters.