Air Force Improves Long-Range Capabilities

The Spanish Air Force took delivery of the first of three Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport or MRTT aircraft to boost its long-range range refueling capabilities. Since Spain retired its fleet of Boeing 707s in 2016, its Ejército del Aire (Air Force) has relied on European Allies during longer-range missions.

During the “Pacific Skies 2024” exercises that were held in the Indo-Pacific region, Spanish combat aircraft were refueled by A330 MRTTs from France and Germany.

The second A330 is expected to be delivered later this year, and the third one in 2026. All are repurposed airliners previously operated by Iberia, Spain’s flag carrier airline. Since 2021, they had been performing military transport of passengers and cargo.

Airbus is performing the conversion to add the refueling capability to the aircraft at its large facility in Getafe, near Madrid. All three aircraft will be based at Torrejón de Ardoz airbase outside Madrid, serving with the Ala 45 of the Ejército del Aire.

The conversion will retain the passenger and cargo transport capabilities of the aircraft. The A330 MRTT has a range of up to 8,640 nm (16,000 km) and can carry up to 300 passengers, 45 tons of cargo or a medevac module that turns it into a flying hospital.

In recent weeks, Denmark has also announced plans to acquire two A330 MRTTs to contribute to the Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet, a European initiative involving Germany, Norway, Belgium, theNetherlands, Luxembourg, and the Czech Republic, pool their transport and inflight refueling assets for common benefit.

FMI:  ejercitodelaireydelespacio.defensa.gob.es/