Singapore has secured full certification for the Automatic Air-to-Air Refueling (A3R) system on its Airbus A330 MRTT, achieving a global first in automated aerial refueling capability.
The certification, awarded by the Spanish National Institute for Aerospace Technology, validates the A3R system’s operational maturity, safety, and reliability, authorizing Singapore’s tanker fleet to conduct automatic refueling missions around the clock.
This milestone follows an extensive joint test and qualification effort involving Airbus, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), and Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA).
Developed under Airbus’s SMART MRTT program launched in 2020, A3R integrates computer vision and automation to autonomously detect, track, and refuel receiver aircraft, significantly reducing crew workload.
The program encompassed complex flight campaigns across day and night conditions, multiple receiver platforms, and expanded flight envelopes, with trials conducted in both Spain and Singapore to validate full-spectrum operational performance.
In 2022, the A330 MRTT achieved a first by becoming the world’s first international tanker certified for daylight automated refueling, followed by a 2023 campaign that validated night-time operations and completed hundreds of automated contacts with RSAF F-15SG and F-16 aircraft.
Earlier test phases also demonstrated interoperability with Portuguese F-16 fighters, underscoring the system’s compatibility with allied air platforms.
