澳大利亚空军 KC-30A 首次使用硬杆伸缩加油套管（ARBS）对接另一架同型号飞机，本次对接试验没有真正传输燃油，此轮试验之后，澳空军已列装的 C-17A 战略战术运输机和将列装的 F-35A 战斗机、P-8A 海上巡逻飞机将使用 ARBS 系统进行空中加油，以缩短空中加油时间。此前 KC-30A 只使用机翼下的软管-锥套加油吊舱为本国空军的“超级大黄蜂”战斗机以及其他飞机提供软管式空中加油。（A KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft (MRTT) extends its boom to connect to another KC-30 MRTT. In May 2015, the first air refuelling boom contact was made by a RAAF crew of the KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft. During the flight from RAAF Base Amberley, the crew deployed the 17-meter long Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) which is mounted beneath the tail of the fuselage. Using fly-by-wire controls, the crew made multiple successful contact between the ARBS and the refuelling receptacle of another KC-30A, although no fuel was transferred. The RAAF operates five KC-30As, the first being introduced in mid-2011. Each KC-30A can carry more than 100 tonnes of fuel, using the ARBS or a pair of hose-and-drogue refuelling pods to offload the fuel in-flight.）