The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) is planned to replace the air refuelling (AR) and some elements of air transport (AT) capability currently provided by the RAF’s fleet of VC10 and TriStar aircraft. AR is a key military capability that provides force multiplication and operational range enhancement for front line aircraft across a range of defence roles and military tasks.

FSTA is planned as a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and will break new ground in the provision, by industry, of services to the front line.

Airbus A330 (Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft/FSTA)

• Dual role tanker and passenger aircraft

• Future replacement aircraft for Tristar and VC10

• Modern cockpit with 'fly-by-wire' controls

• Can carry a 5 ton load and refuel four Tornados on a trans-Atlantic flight

Details

In January 2004 AirTanker was selected as the bidder most likely to provide a value for money solution and contractual negotiations on key commercial terms began. Following revisions to AirTanker’s proposals, and its re-assessment to the same evaluation criteria, they were selected in February 2005 as the FSTA Preferred Bidder.

Negotiations are underway on all aspects of the detailed contract with a view to securing Financial Close and Contract Award.

On 6 June 2007, Ministers announced that MoD had decided to proceed towards financial and contractual close of the FSTA PFI deal, subject to a satisfactory outcome of the PFI funding process. This was completed, and the contract concluded, on 27 March 2008.

 

AIRBUS A330 Specifications
Engines	Two Rolls Royce Trent turbofans
Length	193ft 7in (59.00m)
Wingspan	197ft 10in (60.30m)
Top Speed	530mph (850km/h)

AirTanker's bid centred on the Airbus A330 aircraft. All aircraft will be capable as 2-point tankers, equipped with 2 FRL Mk32B 900E pods. A number of the fleet will also be capable of being fitted as 3-point tankers. Very few internal changes are required to the A330-200 to modify it for the air-to-air refuelling role. In particular no additional fuel tanks are required. As the A330 shares the same wing as the four-engined A340, there is a pre-strengthened location available for mounting the wing AAR pods. As a consequence, refuelling pods can be fitted with minimal modifications and without any strengthening required to the aircraft.

The full passenger and cargo capability can be used while the A330-200 is configured for AAR operations. The cabin remains fully configured and the cargo compartments are unobstructed. On a typical deployment across the Atlantic, a single A330 would be able to refuel four Tornados and still carry 11,000lb (5000kg) of freight/passengers.

One novel aspect of the contract is the facility lease the aircraft for civil operations. The considerable commercial demand for the A330 makes it more attractive to third-parties who will operate those aircraft in the fleet not immediately required for RAF use. This will deliver a major cost saving to the MoD and taxpayer and ensures that the considerable capability advantages of the A330 are affordable.

The A330 will replace the RAF's existing VC10 and Tristar fleets at RAF Brize Norton.

Roles

• Air Transport (AT). The movement of personnel and support equipment.

• Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR). The facility to extend the range, endurance or payload of air operations.

• Aeromedical Evacuation (Aeromed). The airlift of patients.