The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has ordered two additional Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, bringing the total number of aircraft in the Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF) to 12. The two new aircraft will be delivered in 2028 and 2029. This expansion coincides with the formal membership of Sweden and Denmark in the MMF program, further strengthening European strategic autonomy and collaborative defense capabilities.
The inclusion of Sweden and Denmark expands the base of participating nations in the MMF program and consolidates European sovereignty in critical defense areas. The MMF program, funded by the Netherlands and Luxembourg with the progressive membership of Norway, Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic, allows these nations the exclusive right to operate the NATO-owned aircraft according to a shared use model, ensuring operational commonality, interoperability, and cost efficiency. It is a concrete example of operational cooperation in the European defense sector.
“The expansion of the multinational MRTT fleet with two additional aircraft and the entry of Sweden and Denmark into the program underscore Europe’s commitment towards collective defense and strategic autonomy”, stated Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space. “Airbus is proud to contribute to this effort by delivering state-of-the-art A330 MRTT, produced and converted at our Toulouse and Getafe sites. This collaboration demonstrates how the European industry can effectively respond to security challenges through innovation and cooperation”.
The Airbus A330 MRTT is a next-generation aircraft that perfectly integrates in-flight refueling capability, strategic transport, and medical evacuation. With fuel capacity up to 111 tons, it is capable of performing long-range missions in support of NATO operations in Europe and beyond. The wide-body fuselage allows it to transport up to 300 military personnel or a payload up to 45 tons. The aircraft can also be configured with a dedicated MEDEVAC kit, with stretchers and intensive care stations. Since its introduction, the A330 MRTT has been involved in relief missions, including air surveillance operations and air space patrols, safeguarding the territorial integrity of the allies.
The A330 MRTT combines advanced technology with over 325,000 hours of operational experience as a strategic tanker. The aircraft is the world’s first tanker certified for automatic refueling in flight via boom (A3R), a technology that increases safety and efficiency during missions. These features, combined with its proven performance, make the A330 MRTT a reliable and versatile asset that holds 90% of the global market for new generation tankers outside the United States, with 84 orders from 17 customers.
