On August 25 Spain’s Council of Ministers approved a €5.4 billion ($6.3 billion) plan to jointly acquire Airbus-made A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft with Poland.
The Council authorized the conclusion of a 7-year framework agreement which includes the procurement of the aircraft and logistical support required for entry in service.
The Framework Agreement includes the use of funding from the ‘Security Action for Europe’ (SAFE) vehicle set up by the European Union. Further information then came, via X, from Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, who wrote that the plan calls for the acquisition of “at least” 7 tankers. Of these, Poland will receive 4 by 2030.
That would leave 3 aircraft for Spain which, unlike Poland, is already an A330 MRTT user, having ordered a first 3 aircraft in 2021. Of these, the first entered service with the Spanish Air and Space Force’s 45th wing in 2025.
All 3 of these MRTTs have been obtained by converting ex-Iberia civilian A330-200 airframes. In their civilian configuration, all 3 aircraft had 288 seats. The engines are General Electric CF6-80E1. The first 3 Spanish MRTTs, at least initially, were only equipped with a hose and drogue refuelling system without the boom system, which can however be added later if required. Airbus says that negotiations towards this new procurement will begin soon.
It is assumed the 7 tankers will be new-build aircraft and, at least in the case of Poland, can be expected to definitely include the boom, necessary to support the polish F-35As and F-16s.
If the aircraft are produced for purpose they will presumably come in the newest MRTT+ configuration, which integrates the advanced technology of the civilian A330-800, the smaller variant of the latest 330neo family. The MRTT+ introduces the Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines alongside optimised wing aerodynamics, a longer wingspan, and new blended wingtip devices resulting in a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 8%. Maximum takeoff weight has also increased, to 242 tonnes.
Privacy Policy
Powered by © Mobilbyte s.a.s. Information Technology