Fuelled on a Wing
Trials of the Airbus Defence
and Space A400M tanker/
transport in the refuelling role
for the Dassault Rafale fighter
have recently been concluded.
The tests were conducted
by the Direction Générale de
l’Armement’s Essais en Vol (DGA
EV) using an A400M from the
Armée de l’Air’s Escadron de
Transport 1/61 ‘Touraine’.
The aircraft in question was the 12th
to be delivered to the air force,
and the first in the European
A400M programme to be
delivered with two underwing
refuelling pods. The aircraft was
handed over to the DGA by the
manufacturer in November 2017.
Fuelled on the wing
The wing pods are Cobham 908E
WDE (wing dispense equipment)
units; the A400M is also able to
mount an 808E hose-drogue unit
(HDU) in the rear cabin..
SA Artillery