Aircraft manufacturer Airbus has successfully conducted a major helicopter air-to-air refuelling certification campaign using its A400M new-generation airlifter, thereby also completing the majority of its development and certification objectives.

Airbus’ Defence and Space division aims to achieve full helicopter air-to-air refuelling certification later this year with the conclusion of all mandatory night operation trials for the A400M.

The flight tests, performed in coordination with the French Armament General Directorate, 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 1 000 ft and 10 000 ft and flight speeds as low as 105 knots.

During those flights, 81 wet contacts and transfers of 6.5 t of fuel were achieved. It included simultaneous refuelling of two helicopters for the first time. The tests confirmed the positive results of the dry and wet contact operations conducted in 2019 and 2020.

Different to refuelling of fixed-wing and jet aircraft (some of which have higher stall speeds), helicopter air-to-air refuelling is a unique military capability.

Airbus also notes that such capability is key for special forces operations, involving aircraft with different flight profiles and sharing a limited common flight envelope, requiring close formation flying patterns at low altitudes and night time conditions.

With its helicopter air-to-air refuelling capability, the A400M becomes one of the few tanker aircraft globally capable of such operations. The multi-purpose H225M is one of the few helicopters in the world capable of in-flight refuelling, extending the standard 700 nautical-mile range by up to ten hours flight time.

Airbus also states that the A400M is certified as standard to be quickly configured as a tanker – carrying up to 50.8 t of fuel in its wings and centre wing box, without compromising any cargo hold area.

Two additional cargo hold tanks can also be installed, providing an additional 5.7 t of fuel each. The separate cargo-hold tanks enable the use of different types of fuel, thereby meaning the equipped A400M is able to cater for the needs of different types of receiver aircraft.

As a tanker, the A400M has already demonstrated its ability to refuel fighter jet receiver aircraft, such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, Panavia Tornado or the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 at their preferred speeds and altitudes.

The A400m is also able to refuel other large aircraft such as another A400M for buddy refuelling, and other large airlifters – Airbus’ C295 or Lockheed Martin’s C-130.