The A 310 Airbus is a civil airliner in service with a number of airlines worldwide. 255 Airbus A310-300 twin-engine wide-bodied airliners have been built since 1983. The aircraft is also in service with a number of Air Forces in a troop/cargo transport role.

Versions include the basic A310-200, the longer range A310-300 (introduced in 1985), a cargo version (over 100 have been converted) and the MRTT multi-role tanker transport, a military tanker version.

Production of the A310 aircraft ceased in July 2007. 255 aircraft have been delivered. Five aircraft for Iraqi Airways remain on the Airbus order book but were never built.

Airbus Industrie is a consortium formed by EADS and BAE Systems. EADS, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, was formed by a merger of Aerospatiale-Matra of France, Daimler-Chrysler Aerospace of Germany and CASA of Spain (former members of Airbus). In October 2006, BAE Systems completed the sale of its shareholding to EADS, which is now the sole owner of Airbus.

The aircraft has a shorter fuselage than the A300 aircraft but the same 5.64m fuselage diameter. The A310 is a 200 seater aircraft with low operating costs. The large fuselage diameter allows the aircraft to carry industry-standard LD3 cargo containers side by side underfloor.

The A310 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) is a military derivative of the Airbus A310 airliner. It is designed as a dual-role air refuelling tanker and cargo transport aircraft.

The aircraft are manufactured and modified by EADS/Airbus. The conversion involves:

• Installation of two AAR pods under each wing

• Four additional fuel tanks (extra 28,000 kg)—giving total capacity of almost 78,000 kg

• Fuel Operator Station (FOS) to control fuel offload, cameras etc, military radios and exterior lighting. For MRTT, a remote surveillance of approaching/refuelling process with a night-vision capable video system had to be developed. This system (developed by a small company called VIDAIR) allows operation both with visible light and also near-infrared radiation.

• Reinforced wings and aircraft floor

• Minor cockpit modifications