The boom is a feature that the IAF will want, considering that its C-17 and the IN's P-8I fleets can only be refueled by a boom equipped tanker. That is something that the Il-78 Midas tankers don't yet have and would have had to develop if they were allowed to participate in the tanker contest.
LONDON —Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) says it has performed flight tests of a fly-by-wire boom system destined for use on tanker conversions of commercial aircraft.
The company’s Bedek division has been using a former North American AirlinesBoeing 767-300ER aircraft to test the boom system as an optional fit onto second-hand 767s, which the company is offering to potential customers.
Flight trials have been underway from the company’s facilities in Tel Aviv.
The development follows a March 2013 decision by the Brazilian defense ministry to select IAI to convert two 767-300ERs into tankers to replace the Brazil’s aging fleet of KC-137 aircraft, which are based on the Boeing 707 and have been suffering from serviceability issues. The fleet has been retired, leaving Brazil with only its KC-130 Hercules tankers.
It is not clear, however, whether Brazil has opted for installation of the refueling boom system.
“The operational and technological experience gained from Israeli Air Force and IAI’s other customers has been taken into consideration and utilized in the design and development of the new generation B767-300ER MMTT [Multi-Mission Tanker Transport],” the company said Aug. 26.
Currently, one IAI-converted Boeing 767-200ER is flying as a tanker with the Colombian air force, supporting its fleet of IAI Kfir ground-attack aircraft. The aircraft flies air-to-air refueling, troop transport and presidential missions. Using the 400,000-lb. 767-300ER, the aircraft can carry 200,000 lb. (90,000 kg) of fuel, as well as troops and cargo pallets. Converted aircraft are modified with extra fuel tanks in the belly and a cargo door on the main.
The company says it also is offering a Smart Tanker, which can carry out additional tasks in flight such as electronic or signals intelligence or even as an airborne command post.