Automatic Air-to-Air Refueling Now Fully Certified on A330 MRTT
Airbus and Singapore have achieved full certification for the automatic air-to-air refueling (A3R) capability on the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), marking a world first in military aviation. Certification was granted by Spain’s National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) after a thorough flight-test and qualification campaign with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA).
The A3R system automates the traditional aerial refueling boom operation, reducing manual workload for air refueling operators while enhancing precision and safety. The full certification covers both daytime and night operations, reflecting rigorous testing across a wide range of mission profiles and receiver aircraft types.
What This Certification Means
The certification confirms the maturity, reliability, and safety of Airbus’s Automatic Air-to-Air Refueling system on the A330 MRTT. It allows the RSAF to conduct automated refueling operations with its fleet of MRTTs operated by 112 Squadron without manual boom control.
Singapore is the first air force in the world to field a fully certified automatic refueling capability on a tanker aircraft. This milestone establishes a benchmark for aerial refuelling automation and may influence future tanker modernization efforts internationally.
How the A3R System Works
Developed under Airbus’s SMART MRTT initiative, the A3R system uses advanced sensors and computer vision to automatically detect and track receiver aircraft and guide the refueling boom into position. The process minimizes the need for direct human input during boom engagement, reducing operator fatigue and enabling more consistent contact with receiver aircraft.
The system is designed to be compatible with multiple receiver platforms. Certification testing included RSAF F-16 and F-15SG fighters alongside the MRTT fleet, validating the system across different aircraft types and operational conditions.
Development and Testing History
Airbus and the RSAF began collaborating on the A3R program in 2020, aiming to bring automated boom refueling into operational service. Earlier milestones included successful daytime certification in 2022 and extensive night operation flight tests, as well as trials that involved hundreds of automatic contacts between the MRTT and various receiver aircraft.
These efforts culminated in the recent certification announcement at the Singapore Airshow 2026, reinforcing Singapore’s role as a leading partner in A3R development and innovation.
Strategic Impact
Automatic aerial refueling offers several operational advantages for air forces:
- Reduced workload and improved safety for refueling operators.
- Greater consistency and precision in boom contact across mission profiles.
- Enhanced flexibility for tanker and receiver formations during sustained operations.
By automating complex refueling tasks, the A3R system can free crew attention for broader situational awareness and mission management.
What Comes Next
With full certification secured, Airbus plans to support A3R retrofit and integration for existing MRTT operators. The company is also exploring ways to incorporate the technology more seamlessly into future tanker variants, including the A330neo-based MRTT Plus platform.
Continued collaboration between Airbus and Singapore could extend the range of certified receiver aircraft and broaden the global adoption of automated refueling capabilities.
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