Singapore Certifies World-First Automatic Air Refueling on Airbus A330 Aircraft Tanker.

Airbus Defence and Space announced on 4 February 2026, that the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport had achieved full certification for Automatic Air-to-Air Refuelling with Singapore. The milestone places the Republic of Singapore Air Force at the leading edge of tanker automation and reshapes how future air refuelling missions may be conducted.

According to information published on February 4, 2026, by Airbus Defence and Space, Airbus and Singapore have completed full certification of the Automatic Air-to-Air Refuelling capability on the A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport), marking the first time such a system has been cleared for operational military use. The certification, achieved with the Republic of Singapore Air Force, enables refuelling contacts via automated boom operations, reducing crew workload and improving precision and repeatability during complex aerial refuelling missions.
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An Airbus A330 MRTT tanker aircraft operated by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) conducts fully automatic air-to-air refuelling of an RSAF F-15 fighter during a night mission using the A3R system, illustrating the world-first certified autonomous refuelling capability. (Picture source: Airbus)

The certification was granted by Spain’s National Institute for Aerospace Technology following a multi-year qualification and flight-test campaign conducted in close coordination with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency. The approval confirms that the A3R system is cleared for operational use across the full mission spectrum, including both daytime and night refuelling, and across an expanded flight envelope. With this milestone, the RSAF’s 112 Squadron becomes the first unit globally to field a fully certified autonomous refuelling capability on an operational tanker fleet.

From an operational standpoint, the achievement goes well beyond incremental automation. Automatic Air-to-Air Refuelling fundamentally changes how tanker missions are conducted by transferring critical tasks from the operator to onboard systems based on computer vision, advanced sensors, and real-time flight control logic. Once engaged, the A3R system can detect, track, and precisely guide the refuelling boom into the receiver aircraft’s receptacle without manual input, maintaining safe separation and optimal alignment throughout the contact phase. Airbus officials involved in the programme indicated that the system demonstrated stable performance in demanding lighting conditions, turbulent airflow, and complex formation scenarios representative of real combat support missions.

The certification campaign, which began in 2020, relied heavily on Singapore’s operational assets. RSAF A330 MRTTs served as the test tankers, while frontline F-16 and F-15 fighters were used as receiver aircraft during hundreds of validation contacts. Flight trials were conducted in both European airspace and over Singapore, allowing the partners to assess the system under diverse weather conditions, operational tempos, and air traffic environments. Engineers involved in the programme noted that this broad testing envelope was essential to validate not only the automation algorithms but also the robustness of the boom control laws and safety redundancies.

At the platform level, the achievement further underscores the technical maturity of the Airbus A330 MRTT itself, which is derived from the proven A330-200 widebody commercial airframe and extensively militarized for multi-role operations. The aircraft can carry more than 100 tonnes of fuel without additional fuel tanks, thanks to its high-capacity wing and center tanks, enabling long-range tanker missions while retaining full cargo and passenger capability. The MRTT can simultaneously support air-to-air refuelling, strategic airlift, and aeromedical evacuation, making it one of the most versatile tanker transports in service today.

In its tanker configuration, the A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport) is equipped with a fly-by-wire refuelling boom for receptacle-equipped aircraft, complemented by underwing hose-and-drogue pods and an optional fuselage refuelling unit for probe-equipped platforms. The boom, which is electrically actuated and controlled from a dedicated Aerial Refuelling Operator Station, offers high fuel transfer rates suitable for large receivers such as fighter aircraft, bombers, and intelligence platforms. The integration of A3R builds directly on this architecture by adding advanced electro-optical sensors, image processing, and automation software to the existing boom system, rather than replacing it, ensuring compatibility with current tanker fleets.

Beyond refuelling, the A330 MRTT can carry up to 300 troops or a payload exceeding 45 tonnes of cargo on standard pallets, and it can be rapidly reconfigured for medical evacuation with space for stretchers, intensive care modules, and medical staff. Powered by twin high-bypass turbofan engines, the aircraft combines intercontinental range with efficient fuel consumption, allowing it to operate from major bases while supporting forward-deployed air operations over extended periods. These characteristics have made the A330 MRTT a cornerstone asset for air forces seeking to project power, sustain air campaigns, and support coalition operations.

Airbus Defence and Space Chief Executive Officer Mike Schoellhorn described the certification as a demonstration of what sustained industrial and military collaboration can achieve, noting that Singapore has consistently acted as an early adopter and co-developer of advanced aerospace technologies. From Airbus’s perspective, the successful certification also strengthens the A330 MRTT’s position in a competitive global tanker market, particularly as air forces seek to reduce crew workload while increasing sortie generation and safety margins during long-duration missions.

Singaporean defence leaders emphasized the operational impact for a small but highly networked air force. DSTA Chief Executive Ng Chad-son highlighted that full certification now allows the RSAF to conduct automatic refuelling around the clock, reducing operator fatigue and enhancing overall mission safety. Chief of Air Force Major-General Kelvin Fan underscored that the capability directly contributes to higher operational effectiveness, especially in scenarios where tankers must support multiple receivers under compressed timelines.

From a strategic and technological perspective, A3R is a key element of Airbus’ SMART MRTT vision, which aims to integrate automation, connectivity, and decision-support tools into the tanker platform. Analysts note that as air forces increasingly operate stealth aircraft, unmanned systems, and distributed basing concepts, the precision and consistency offered by automated refuelling could become a decisive enabler. By certifying the capability first, Singapore not only gains a tangible operational advantage but also helps shape emerging global standards for the future of air-to-air refuelling, one of the most technically demanding tasks in military aviation.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.