ARLINGTON, Va., 27 Aug. 2009. The second A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for Australia has completed its mission equipment outfitting with a "power-on" milestone. The defense system currently is being readied for pre-delivery flight testing, and is designed to perform in demanding environments.

The aircraft underwent conversion to the A330 MRTT military configuration in Australia--a process that involved the installation of military embedded systems.

Qantas Engineering performed the mission equipment outfitting at its Brisbane Airport facility with the support of Airbus Military underscoring the capability of EADS and its subsidiaries to transfer complex industrial processes around the globe, says a representative.

One of the key achievements of the milestone is verifying operation of more than 400 installed wiring harnesses--with more than 35 miles of cabling and 1600 connectors--that go into the MRTT as part of its military embedded systems modifications. It is a key step prior to the commencement of ground and flight test of the aerial refueling systems and military avionics.

Following flight test in Australia, the aircraft will fly to Madrid, Spain, for further modifications prior to joining the first MRTT in the certification and qualification flight program.