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.1669

Germany and Norway place firm order for fleet of five NATO-owned Airbus A330 MRTT tankers

Madrid, 25 September 2017 – Airbus Defence and Space has received a firm order for five Airbus A330 MRTT Multi Role Tanker Transports from Europe’s organisation for the management of cooperative armament programmes – OCCAR – on behalf of NATO Support & Procurement Agency (NSPA) and funded by Germany and Norway.

The order follows the announcement on 29 June of a Memorandum of Understanding under which the two nations would join Netherlands and Luxembourg in the European/NATO Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet (MMF) programme.

A contract amendment signed at the OCCAR headquarters in Bonn, Germany today adds five aircraft to the two previously ordered by Netherlands and Luxembourg and includes four additional options to enable other nations to join the grouping. It includes two years of initial support.

The programme is funded by the four nations who will have the exclusive right to operate these NATO–owned aircraft in a pooling arrangement. The aircraft will be configured for in-flight refuelling, the transport of passengers and cargo, and medical evacuation flights.

The first two aircraft have already been ordered to be delivered from Airbus Defence and Space’s tanker conversion line at Getafe near Madrid and all seven are expected to be handed over between 2020 and 2022.

The European Defence Agency (EDA) initiated the MMF programme in 2012. OCCAR manages the MMF acquisition phase as Contract Executing Agent on behalf of NSPA. Following the acquisition phase, NSPA will be responsible for the complete life-cycle management of the fleet.

Airbus Defence and Space Head of Military Aircraft Fernando Alonso said: “This new order further demonstrates the A330 MRTT’s position as the world’s premier tanker/transport aircraft. But it also firmly establishes the MMF as one of Europe’s most important collaborative programmes and a model for the future European defence projects which are expected to be launched in the coming years.”

Airbus Updates No.1662

First A330 MRTT Phénix for France makes maiden flight

Madrid, 7 September 2017 - Airbus Defence and Space has today successfully completed the maiden flight of the first A330 MRTT Multi Role Tanker Transport for France. The aircraft, which will be known in French service as Phénix, is the first of nine ordered by the French Defence Procurement Agency DGA, plus another three expected to be confirmed. It is the second new standard A330 MRTT to fly, featuring structural modifications, aerodynamic improvements giving a fuel-burn reduction of up to 1%, upgraded avionics computers and enhanced military systems. The aircraft was converted in Getafe from a standard A330 assembled in Toulouse. The crew reported that the aircraft performed in line with expectations during the 3h 25min flight. The Phénix fleet will be equipped with a combination of the Airbus Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) and underwing hose-and-drogue refuelling pods, and can carry 272 passengers or be configured for medical evacuation. First delivery is due in 2018. Fifty-one A330 MRTTs have been ordered by eight nations of which 28 have been delivered. Photo: Pablo Cabellos / Airbus