Order for Four Brings RSAF Up to 10

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ordered four more tankers from Airbus, building up a fleet that's already one of the region's most mobile, capable forces.

The Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft is a logical choice for them, since they'd already purchased half a dozen of them from 2008 onwards. With the new order for 4, the Royal Saudi Arabia Air Force (RSAF) should have a lot more options for deployment in the future, to an extent not too often seen in a regional power their size. The new aircraft will head into their conversion hangars in the early days of 2025, then head out into official service some time in 2027. Saudi Arabia has been on a minor spending splurge in recent years, bolstered by American support and their own deep pockets. In recent memory, they've gotten around to upgrading their 230-some F-15 Eagles and picked up plenty of AIM-120Cs to feed them, but those aircraft need to be fueled too. RSAF tankers will be equipped with hose & drogue pods in addition to a standard boom, with a boom receptacle of its own in order to accept fuel from its own kind.

When the MRTTs aren't pressed into tanker service toting around 111 tonnes of fuel, they can be fitted for a 45-ton interior payload with a broad assortment of cargo options. Should the Saudis need to carry passengers, the MRTT can be outfitted to haul up to 300 at a time, for medevac use, 40 stretchered patients. All cargo? 27 LD3 containers or 8 military pallets. When deploying a fighter wing to the field, a single MRTT can even be used as an all-in-one support plane to bring everyone along on a road trip. With a single A330 MRTT, 4 fighters, 50 personnel, and 12 tonnes of their necessary parts, spares, and extra undies can be brought on a single 3,230-mile flight.

"This new order demonstrates the high level of customer satisfaction with the A330 MRTT”, said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space. "This is the third contract signed by Saudi Arabia for the A330 MRTT, making the RSAF one of the largest MRTT operators in the world".

FMI: www.airbus.com