Ottawa secures added A330s for MRTT conversion
The Canadian government will acquire nine A330-200(MRTT)s after signing a contract with Airbus Defense and Space for four new A330-200(MRTT)s and the conversion of five used A330-200s. The Royal Canadian Air Force (CFC, Winnipeg International) (RCAF) is expected to take delivery of the first in 2027.
The multirole refuelling and transport aircraft will replace the three A310-300(MRTT)s (a.k.a CC-150 Polaris aircraft) the RCAF now uses to undertake air-to-air refuelling operations, military, personnel and cargo airlifts, medical evacuations, and the transportation of government VIPs. The government says the additional aircraft will strengthen Canada's continental defence capabilities.
All nine aircraft will have a boom system, hoses and baskets for refuelling options, and cybersecurity and countermeasures solutions. In addition, Airbus' medical evacuation kit, which includes two intensive care units and additional stretchers, can be installed into the planes. The CAD3 billion Canadian dollar (USD2.28 billion) contract also includes a full suite of training services, incorporating full access to flight simulators.
The four new A330-200s will be manufactured at Airbus' facility in Toulouse, France, while the conversions, scheduled to start in mid-2025, will occur at Getafe, Spain.
Last August, ch-aviation reported that the Canadian government had secured two of the A330-200s in USD102 million deal with International Airfinance. Ahead of conversion to MRRT status, those two aircraft are former Kuwait Airways (KU, Kuwait) stock and presently registered as 9K-APC (msn 1653) and 9K-APD (msn 1678). Both aircraft are in storage at Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg, CH.
