Cobham to develop MV-22B refuelling system
Cobham has been awarded a contract to develop a palletised aerial refuelling system to enable the US Marine Corps (USMC) MV-22B Osprey to refuel other aircraft during flight, it announced on 25 October. The contract was awarded by the Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office.
The V-22 Aerial Refuelling System (VARS) will be a modified version of Cobham's FR300 Hose Drum Unit.
The roll-on/roll-off kit will allow the USMC to use both carrier-based and land-based MV-22Bs to refuel the F/A-18 Hornet and F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft. As a result, the fighters will have extended loiter time and operational range.
The VARS will undergo comprehensive analyses and testing, and is expected to be ready for delivery in 2018.
Kevin McKeown, vice president and general manager of Cobham Mission Systems, said: 'With VARS we continue the tradition of providing industry leading aerial refuelling capability to war fighters. This programme will enable the marines to extend the flying range of their fighter aircraft and allow for efficient shipboard operations.'
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