Four more A330 MRTT tankers for Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia ← 
SpainDeal progress
Current status: Contract signed — latest milestone in 2024. Not every deal goes through every stage; a government sale approval, for example, applies only in some supplier countries.
Deal details
Saudi Arabia is acquiring A330 MRTT tanker aircraft from Spain, with Airbus Defence and Space named as the manufacturer. It is classed under transport, tanker and surveillance aircraft. The announced quantity is 4 additional aircraft, and no value has been disclosed.
The two sides have signed a final contract. The most recent major milestone came in 2024, and completion of deliveries has not yet been announced.
Details: The Royal Saudi Air Force’s third contract for the type; entry into service planned for 2027.
What is the Airbus A330 MRTT?
The A330 MRTT is a multi-role tanker transport built by Airbus Defence and Space on the airframe of the civil A330-200 airliner. It carries 111 tonnes of fuel in the standard wing tanks with no need for extra tanks in the cargo hold, so the cabin stays free for passengers or freight on the same flight.
The aircraft refuels fighters, transports and surveillance aircraft through the Airbus fly-by-wire boom mounted in the tail, or through hoses and drogues trailed from two pods under the wings. The boom delivers up to 3600 kg of fuel a minute, against 1300 kg for each pod, so it can serve aircraft designed for either system. Once the refuelling mission is over it becomes a strategic transport carrying up to 300 passengers or a total payload of up to 45 tonnes, 37 tonnes of it cargo in two lower holds, and it can also be fitted out for medical evacuation.
Operators and development
Australia was the first to take delivery, followed by orders from the UK, France, Spain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Singapore and South Korea. The Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Belgium and others operate a pooled fleet under a multinational programme managed by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency. According to Airbus, the aircraft serves with 17 countries, and orders total 91 aircraft, of which 66 have been delivered.
The aircraft can stay airborne for about 18 hours and has a range of up to 16,000 km. Airbus is now developing the A330 MRTT+, based on the A330neo with Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, after completing trials of automatic air-to-air refuelling, in which the boom makes contact without operator input. The technology eases the boom operator’s workload and shortens each refuelling, especially at night or in turbulence.
Key specifications
| Role | Air-to-air refuelling, strategic transport and medical evacuation |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Airbus Defence and Space |
| Base aircraft | A330-200 |
| Fuel capacity | 111 tonnes |
| Refuelling systems | Tail boom and two underwing hose pods |
| Boom flow rate | 3600 kg/min |
| Passengers | Up to 300 |
| Maximum payload | 45 tonnes |
| Range | Up to 16,000 km |
