Europe pips Russia in mega mid-air refueling aircraft deal

[KS]

Europe pips Russia in mega mid-air refueling aircraft deal - The Times of India

NEW DELHI: After having lost out to the US in the race to supply "attack" and "heavy-lift" helicopters to India, Russia has now been upstaged in yet another mega defence deal. India has selected the European Airbus-330 MRTT over the Russian Ilyushin-78 mid-air refuelling aircraft in an Rs 8,500-crore contract.

Defence ministry sources on Thursday said the European Aeronautics Defence and Space Company (EADS) "is now being called for the final commercial negotiations" for acquisition of six Airbus-330 MRTT tankers.

"The actual contract will be inked in the 2013-14 financial year since commercial negotiations with EADS will take some time. Moreover, there has been a massive cut (Rs 10,000 crore) in the defence capital budget for the ongoing fiscal," said a source.

http://defenceforumindia.com/airbus-a330-mrtt-bags-indias-mega-mid-air-refueling-aircraft-deal-1456

 

[Yusuf]

writing is on the wall. India looks at life cycle costs & Russia does not match up.

 

[Indian_Baba]

"four-engine IL-78 and the two-engine Airbus-330 had passed the extensive field evaluation trials conducted by IAF "

How much difference will this make. Guru's can you please thorugh some light on the capabilities of the two ignoring the cost factor.

 

[Yusuf]

"four-engine IL-78 and the two-engine Airbus-330 had passed the extensive field evaluation trials conducted by IAF "

How much difference will this make. Guru's can you please thorugh some light on the capabilities of the two ignoring the cost factor.

The Gurus in IAF found both to be equally capable but found the European aircraft cheaper in life cycle costs.

 

[Indian_Baba]

The Gurus in IAF found both to be equally capable but found the European aircraft cheaper in life cycle costs.

Agree with that , just curios about the technical comparision.
The article talk about Airbus but has no info on the russian one

"
The MRTT (multi-role tanker transport), based on the Airbus-330 wide-bodied commercial airliner, can carry 110 tonnes of fuel to "`top-off" several fighters simultaneously through its "aerial refuelling boom system".

EADS touts its tanker as the fastest one in the business because it can transfer 4,600 litres per minute, greatly reducing the refuelling operation time. The MRTT can also be used as a transport/cargo plane, capable as it is of carrying around 380 passengers or a 45-tonne payload. "

 

[sob]

Also the Airbus plane can be used as a Transporter as well as a tanker.

Also being based on a successful commercial frame helps it keep the overall life cycle cost down. @ engines v/s 4 engines also helps.

From the Wiki

The A330 MRTT is a military derivative of the Airbus A330-200 airliner. It is designed as a dual-role air-to-air refuelling and transport aircraft. For air-to-air refuelling missions the A330 MRTT can be equipped with a combination of any of the following systems:[citation needed]
Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) for receptacle-equipped receiver aircraft.
Cobham 905E under-wing refuelling pods for probe-equipped receiver aircraft.
Cobham 805E Fuselage Refuelling Unit (FRU) for probe-equipped receiver aircraft
Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle System Installation (UARRSI) for self in-flight refuelling.
The A330 MRTT has a maximum fuel capacity of 111,000 kg (240,000 lb) without the use of additional fuel tanks, which leaves space for the carriage of 45,000 kg (99,000 lb) of additional cargo. The A330 MRTT's wing has common structure with the four-engine A340-200/-300 with reinforced mounting locations and provision for fuel piping for the A340's outboard engines. The A330 MRTT's wing therefore requires little modification for use of these hardpoints for the wing refuelling pods.[2]

The A330 MRTT cabin can be modified to carry up to 380 passengers in a single class configuration, allowing a complete range of configurations from maximised troop transport to complex customisation suitable for VIP and guest missions. The A330 MRTT can also be configured to perform Medical Evacuation (Medevac) missions; up to 130 standard stretchers can be carried. The main deck cargo configuration allows carriage of standard commercial containers and pallets, military, ISO and NATO pallets (including seats) and containers, and military equipment and other large items which are loaded through a cargo door. Like the A330-200, the A330 MRTT includes two lower deck cargo compartments (forward and aft) and a bulk area capability. The cargo hold has been modified to be able to transport up to 8 military pallets in addition to civilian Unit Load Device (ULD)

 

[Yusuf]

Agree with that , just curios about the technical comparision.
The article talk about Airbus but has no info on the russian one

"
The MRTT (multi-role tanker transport), based on the Airbus-330 wide-bodied commercial airliner, can carry 110 tonnes of fuel to "`top-off" several fighters simultaneously through its "aerial refuelling boom system".

EADS touts its tanker as the fastest one in the business because it can transfer 4,600 litres per minute, greatly reducing the refuelling operation time. The MRTT can also be used as a transport/cargo plane, capable as it is of carrying around 380 passengers or a 45-tonne payload. "

@p2prada
@ArmandREP
@ Kunal Biswas

 

[sob]

Again from Wiki very informative fuel loads

The IL-78M is a dedicated tanker and cannot be converted back to the transport role easily. Adding a third freight hold tank increased transferable fuel to 105,720 kg (233,100 lb) and maximum take-off weight (MTOW) to 210,000 kg (460,000 lb), necessitating reinforcement of the wing torsion box.

The A330 MRTT has a maximum fuel capacity of 111,000 kg (240,000 lb) without the use of additional fuel tanks, which leaves space for the carriage of 45,000 kg (99,000 lb) of additional cargo.

So we have another advantage for the A 330 MRT, higher capacities and multi role tasking.

 

[p2prada]

A-330 beats the IL-78 in every parameter except for looking good.

 

[nrj]

This happened couple of years ago already but FM shot down the proposal looking at the price tag.

Hope new FM will look at things differently & approve the purchase order.

Sent via Tapatalk from a galaxy far far away

 

[Blackwater]

Again from Wiki very informative fuel loads

The IL-78M is a dedicated tanker and cannot be converted back to the transport role easily. Adding a third freight hold tank increased transferable fuel to 105,720 kg (233,100 lb) and maximum take-off weight (MTOW) to 210,000 kg (460,000 lb), necessitating reinforcement of the wing torsion box.

The A330 MRTT has a maximum fuel capacity of 111,000 kg (240,000 lb) without the use of additional fuel tanks, which leaves space for the carriage of 45,000 kg (99,000 lb) of additional cargo.

So we have another advantage for the A 330 MRT, higher capacities and multi role tasking.

A-330 MRT can also transfer fuel at the rate of 4500 litres /minute, fastest in its category

 

[bobgriffith]

Europe pips Russia in mega mid-air refueling aircraft deal - The Times of India


Airbus A330 MRTT bags India's mega mid-air refueling aircraft deal

Looks like the Airbus 330 MRTT is a good fit . It will be interesting to see if Air Refueling & Cargo Solutions, Inc. begins producing the cloned but highly advance version of the KC-10 Extender aircraft. That will be the best investment for the money with no doubt whatsoever.