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Airbus A400M new-generation ‘airlifter’ has successfully undertaken a major helicopter air-to-air refuelling certification campaign, thereby completing the majority of its development and certification objectives. Airbus Defence and Space aims to achieve full certification later this year with the conclusion of all ‘mandatory night operation trials’.
The flight tests, performed in coordination with the French Armament General Directorate (DGA), involved operations with two French Air Force H225M helicopters.
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 105 knots. During those flights, a total of 81 wet contacts and transfers of 6.5 tonnes of fuel were achieved, which included — for the first time — simultaneous refuelling of two helicopters. The tests confirmed the positive results of the dry and wet contact operations conducted in 2019 and 2020.
Helicopter air-to-air refuelling is a ‘unique military capability’ and key for Special Forces operations. It involves aircraft with different flight profiles sharing a very limited common flight envelope; such refuelling also requires close-formation flying patterns at low altitudes and night time conditions.
With this capability the A400M becomes one of the few tanker aircraft in the world capable of such operations, while the multi-purpose H225M is one of the few helicopters capable of in-flight refuelling, extending the standard 700NM (nautical mile) range by up to 10hr flight time.
As a tanker, the A400M has already demonstrated its ability to refuel fighter receivers such as Eurofighter, Rafale, Tornado or F/A-18 at their preferred speeds and altitudes, as well as large aircraft such as another A400M (for buddy refuelling), C295 or C-130.