The Airbus A310 MRTT Multi-Role Tanker Transport is a military air-to-air refuelling, or in-flight refuelling tanker transport aircraft, capable of operating multi-role missions. The A310 MRTT tanker aircraft is a subsequent development from the earlier Airbus A310 MRT Multi-Role Transport, which was a military transport aircraft for passengers, cargo, and medical evacuation. The A310 MRT and A310 MRTT are both specialist military conversions of existing airframes of the civilian Airbus A310-300C wide-bodied passenger jet airliner.
Airbus A310 MRTT
Sectioned scale model of the Luftwaffe A310 MRT, demonstrating its multi-role fitment showing the MedEvac intensive care units, with conventional passenger seating aft.
Main deck cargo door (port side) open on Luftwaffe A310 MRT 10+25
MedEvac version of Luftwaffe A310 MRT
The Airbus A310 is a wide-body aircraft, designed and manufactured by Airbus Industrie, then a consortium of European aerospace manufacturers.
Airbus had identified a demand for an aircraft smaller than the A300, the first twin-jet wide-body. On 7 July 1978, the A310 was launched with orders from Swissair and Lufthansa. On 3 April 1982, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight, and the A310 received its type certificate on 11 March 1983.
Airbus A310
The A310 (background) is a shrunken version of the Airbus A300 (foreground)
The A310-200 prototype, featuring the liveries of Swissair (left) and Lufthansa (right), the first customers.
In 1988, an A310 was delivered to Interflug: the first Airbus for an Eastern-bloc airline.