Singapore achieved full certification of automatic air-to-air refueling capability on its Airbus A330 MRTT fleet, becoming the first operator globally to validate day-and-night automated refueling operations. Certification granted by Spain’s National Institute for Aerospace Technology followed an extensive multinational test campaign. Developed under Airbus’s SMART MRTT initiative, the A3R system employs automation and computer vision to detect, track, and refuel receiver aircraft while reducing operator workload. The qualification program involved multiple aircraft types and varied flight conditions to ensure operational robustness. Earlier milestones included daylight automatic certification in 2022 and successful nighttime trials in 2023 involving F-15SG and F-16 aircraft, demonstrating interoperability and operational maturity.
