Airbus Updates No.3775

 

Royal Canadian Air Force secures A330s for MRTT conversion

A330 Freighter© EFW

22.08.2022 - 16:42 UTC

The Royal Canadian Air Force (CFC, Winnipeg Int'l) (RCAF) has secured two civilian A330-200s for conversion into A330-200(MRTT)s via a USD102 million dollar deal between the Canadian government and the International Airfinance Corporation (IAFC). The pair are the first of six incoming planes that will replace and renew the capability currently provided by five RCAF A310-300s (also known as CC150 Polaris aircraft).

IAFC won the contract for the procurement and preparation of the two A330s that will join the Strategic Tanker Transport Capability fleet. The Canadian government has already outlined plans to acquire a further four multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft as part of that country's "Strong, Secure, Engaged" defence policy to lock in future air-to-air refuelling capability.

The five RCAF A310s, of which three are MRTTs, are all well into their fourth decade of flying and have flown for the RCAF since the early 1990s. The aircraft type currently provides the bulk of the RCAF's existing air-to-air refuelling capabilities as well as transporting military personnel, and cargo, and conducting medical evacuations.

The two incoming A330s were manufactured in 2015. However, neither the government nor IAFC were available to comment on the jets' exact identities. In 2021, Boeing (BOE, Washington National) was told by the Canadian government that their competing offer, the B767-2C(KC-46A) Pegasus, a militarized variant of the B767, did not meet the RCAF's requirements.

"The Government of Canada is committed to providing the Canadian Armed Forces with the equipment they need at the best value for money. We look forward to accepting these two aircraft as they represent an important first step in eventually replacing the capability currently provided by the CC150 Polaris fleet,” said Canada's defence minister, Anita Anand.

The Canadian government expects the two A330s to enter service in the 2023 Northern Hemisphere winter. The planes are currently configured to fly passengers only and need modification to military specifications. Before the conversion is complete, the aircraft may operate passenger and cargo flights for the RCAF. According to the RCAF's existing agreements, Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) will undertake all necessary modifications.

The Canadian government was not immediately available to comment on the identity of the procured aircraft.

Airbus Updates No.3846

 

Brazilian Air Force to buy Azul A330s for $80.6mn

RAAF Airbus A330-200 MRTT (KC-30B)© Airbus Industrie

13.04.2022 - 14:57 UTC

Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB, Brasilia) has confirmed it has selected Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras (AD, Sao Paulo Viracopos), the only bidder, as the supplier of two A330-200s that will be converted into Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) variants for USD80.6 million.

The Brazilian MRTT aircraft will be formally known as KC-X3s. The conversion of the two passenger planes will be tendered separately, although it is widely expected to be performed by Airbus Defence and Space at Madrid Getafe airport.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows there are currently fifty-four A330-200(MRTT)s in service globally. The biggest operators are Royal Air Force with ten and Royal Australian Air Force with seven. The Azul jets will be the first large transport jets used by the Brazilian Air Force since the retirement of four KC-137s (converted B707-300(C)s) in 2013.

The tender required that the aircraft be manufactured on or after January 1, 2014. Only one out of eight A330-200s currently operated by Azul is of the required age. The carrier did not respond to ch-aviation's query concerning the source of the aircraft.

Airbus Updates No.3638

 United Arab Emirates orders two additional Airbus A330 MRTT

Dubai, 14 November 2021 – The United Arab Emirates Air Force & Air Defence has formally ordered two additional Airbus A330 Multirole Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft increasing the country’s MRTT fleet up to five aircraft.

With deliveries starting in 2024, this agreement will also cover the upgrade of the country’s current A330MRTT fleet to the latest enhanced version.

‘Since its entry into service in 2013 with the UAE Air Force, the A330 MRTT has delivered much more than initially expected, meeting our customer’s operational needs. This repeat order, added to the growing MRTT customer base, confirms the suitability of our platform as the world’s tanker of reference’, said Bernhard Brenner, Executive Vice President Marketing and Sales at Airbus Defence and Space.

The A330 MRTT combines the advanced technology of a new generation tanker with the operational experience established over more than 250,000 in-service flight hours. The A330 MRTT is interoperable with receivers worldwide and delivers true multi-role capabilities, proven most recently during the recent MEDEVAC and strategic transport missions during the COVID-19 crisis.

Airbus Updates No.3578

 

Spain to acquire three Iberia A330s for MRTT conversion

© Tis Meyer (PlanePics.org)

04.10.2021 - 07:55 UTC

The Spanish Council of Ministers has authorised the Ministry of Defence to proceed with the purchase of three A330-200s from Iberia and covert them into A330-200(MRTT) multi-role transport/tanker (MRTT) aircraft at an estimated total cost of EUR810 million euros (USD935 million).

EUR181 million (USD210 million) has been earmarked for the purchase this year. Aside from the widebody jets, the purchase includes thirty-six H135s (half of which will be operated by the Ministry of Interior) and four H160s for the Ministry of Interior from Airbus Helicopters. The government estimates the acquisition will create 800 additional jobs with the conversion to take place at Madrid Getafe airport.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Iberia operates eighteen A330-200s, which are just 4.3 years old on average. The airline owns eleven aircraft, while the remaining seven are dry-leased from CALC (three), Aergo Capital (two), SMBC Aviation Capital, and Tokyo Century (one each).

The Spanish Air Force/Ejército del Aire does not currently operate any tanker jet aircraft, although some of its ten A400Ms and Lockheed Herculeses have refuelling capabilities. The force's fleet of large aircraft comprises two A310-300s used for strategic transport.