Germany/Norway join Dutch/Lux shared MRTT fleet

Airbus Defence and Space has received a firm order for five Airbus A330 MRTT Multi Role Tanker Transports to be added to the growing European fleet, funded and for use by Germany and Norway.

FILE PHOTO: An RAAF A330-based KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) refuels a United States Air Force C-17A Globemaster III. USAF photo.

The Europe’s organisation for the management of cooperative armament programmes – OCCAR – on behalf of NATO Support & Procurement Agency (NSPA) will manage the procurement.

Germany and Norway announced their intent to make this purchase in June with an MoU under which the two nations would join The Netherlands and Luxembourg in the European/NATO Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet (MMF).

Holland and Luxembourg previously ordered two MRTTs to share.

MMF 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 evacuations.

All seven aircraft are expected to be handed over between 2020 and 2022.

The European Defence Agency (EDA) initiated the MMF programme in 2012.

Fernando Alonso, Airbus Defence and Space Head of Military Aircraft, said this new order further demonstrated the A330 MRTT’s position as the world’s premier tanker/transport aircraft.

“It also firmly establishes the MMF as one of Europe’s most important collaborative programmes and a model for the future European defence projects expected to be launched in the coming years.”

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