Air to Air Refuelling Equipment
Cobham has the experience to meet your in-flight refueling mission needs with system capabilities to refuel both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
Cobham has delivered more than 2,000 aerial refueling systems to the armed forces of 17 countries. Of theses, over 700 aerial refueling systems have been produced by Cobham for C-130 tanker variants including the latest KC-130J, HC-130J, and MC-130J. Cobham also offers wingtip pods for conversion of Boeing 707 aircraft to the tanker role.
In addition to the unrivaled performance and reliability of Cobham aerial refueling systems,these customers are supported by the dedicated personnel in Cobham Field Service and Customer Support organizations.
Wing-tip aerial refueling pods are designed as a ready interface for aircraft tanker conversion. The pods, self-powered by a Ram Air Turbine, feature a hose-and-drogue refueling system and an integral fuel boost pump which provides a fuel transfer capability up to 450 GPM (1703 L/min) at 45 to 55 PSI (310 to 379 kPa).
Buddy Stores
Cobham is the world leader in buddy-store technology. The buddy store is a combination external fuel tank and hose reel mounted on tactical aircraft. The 31-301 buddy store is used extensively by the U.S. Navy, converting the S-3 and F/A-18E/F into tactical tankers. The 31-301 is also being considered for a similar role on the Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft.
Fuselage Refueling and Hose Drum Units
Adaptable to many different platforms, fuselage refueling and hose drum units provide Tanker Aircraft to Receiver Aircraft probe and droge refueling. Mounted in the aircraft or in a wing mounted pod, the unit becomes a subsystem installed on a tanker aircraft.
Cobham manufactures various fuselage-mounted hose reels. For example, the FR600 hose reel is mounted in the fuselage of the U.S. Air Force KC-10 tanker, making it suitable to refuel U.S. Navy and probe-equipped aircraft from various allied forces. The Omega Tanker/Transport conversion of the Boeing 707-300 aircraft features multiple Cobham FR300 Hose Reel systems installed in what was formerly the aft baggage compartment. Recent U.S. Navy flight tests, with the Omega successfully refueling F/A-18 aircraft, have shown fuel transfer rates in excess of 500 GPM.
Cobham 48-000 wing pods and FR300 hose drum units are the standard for KC-130H aerial refueling.
Drogues
All Cobham drogues have unique patented ‘low Foreign Object Damage’ construction which eliminates any parts that would cause receiver engine damage in case of breakage. There are currently 3 different types of drogue available; fixed geometry, low speed variable drag, and high speed variable drag. An all speed variable drag drogue is currently under development. The high speed drogues are all compatible with NATO STANAG 3447 compliant probes, with the low speed VDD being compatible with all Helicopter and Tilt Rotor probes.
Conformal Air Refueling Tanker/System or CARTS
Mission Equipment is pursuing the development/production of a Conformal Air Refueling Tanker/System or CARTS which consists of an extendable/retractable probe. The probe is installed in the right hand conformal fuel tank on the F-16 which provides options to be air refueled using a probe and drogue system or the conventional boom system. The production model will be available in 2012 for new aircraft or in kit form to retrofit Block 50/52 aircraft.
Products
(Choose a model number to view product details) |
| Model (Part Number) | Application | NSN |
| Refueling Pods |
34" Series
(pdf 648 kb)
Wing Air Refueling Pod
(34-000-48317) | B707T/T | - |
48" Series
(pdf 441 kb)
Wing Air Refueling Pod
(48-000-4862) | KC-130, HC-130, MC-130, KC-130J | 1560-01-388-9498 (-1 Series)
1560-01-251-1741 (-2 Series)
1560-01-388-9498 (-4 Series) |
| Buddy Stores |
28-300
(pdf 196 kb)
Buddy Buddy Store
(28-300-48116) | Panavia Tornado | 1560-01-146-9551
1560-01-146-9552
1560-01-146-9553 |
31-300
(pdf 264 kb)
Buddy Buddy Store
(31-300-48053) | A-4, A-6, A-7 | 1680-00-804-1968 (-1 Series)
1680-00-109-7324 (-2 Series) |
31-301
(pdf 292 kb)
Buddy Buddy Store
(31-301-48318) | A-4, A-6, A-7, S-3A, S-3B, F/A-18E/F | - |
| Fuselage Refueling and Hose Drum Units |
FR300T
Fuselage Refueling Unit Skydrol
(149R1001-118) | B707T/T | - |
FR300
(pdf 302 kb)
Hose Reel Assembly
(149R1501 Various) | KC-130, HC-130, MC-130 | 1680-01-023-3165 Various |
FR480
(pdf 312 kb)
Hose Drum Unit
(233-1070) | B707T/T | - |
FR600
(pdf 278 kb)
Hose Drum Unit
(224-1070) | KC-10A | - |
| Drogues |
DROGUE
(pdf 372 kb)
High Speed Variable Drag Drogue (VDD) | A330 MRTT, NATO STANAG 3447 Compliant Probes | - |
DROGUE
(pdf 372 kb)
Low Speed Variable Drag Drogue (VDD) | AFSOC Combat Talon II,
All Helicopter and Tilt Rotor Probes | - |
DROGUE
(pdf 372 kb)
Fixed Geometry Drogue | STANAG Compliant | - |
ADV DROGUE
(pdf 231 kb) | B707T/T, F-18, Tornado | - |
| Fuel Tank Certifier |
UFTC
Universal Fuel Tank Certifier
(401287-2) | A-4, C-130, F-5, F-15, F-16, F/A-18, F/A-22, T-50 and Others | - |
Repair/Overhaul Capabilities
Mission Equipment Training Information (pdf 922 kb)
CAGE Code: 72429