Airbus' A400M military transport and aerial refueling aircraft has successfully demonstrated refueling two F/A-18 fighters simultaneously in Spain.
The company said four flights were conducted by the A400M, during which time it performed 74 contacts with fighters and dispensed nearly 30.5 tons of fuel.
The refueling of the Spanish Air Force jets took place at two altitudes -- 20,000 feet and 33,000 feet – and at air speeds of 180 knots and 300 knots.
The A400M has a basic fuel capacity of more than 56 tons, which can be increased by the use of extra cargo hold tanks.
The A400M Atlas is a four-engine turboprop. It has a cruise speed of 421 knots and a range of 2,450 nautical miles while carrying a full payload.
It was introduced in 2013. The French Air Force, Turkish Air Force, Britain's Royal Air Force and German Air Force have so far received units from Airbus Defense and Space.