In 2020, only two new Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft have been delivered to the Multinational MRTT Unit (MMU) so far. This new unit is an international collaboration between the partner countries that have jointly purchased the Airbus A330 MRTT tanker to significantly increase European tanker capacities. These partner countries are Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and the Czech Republic. In the recent period, Luxembourg has also joined this consortium and a ninth aircraft is added to the ordered fleet of eight aircraft. In the Netherlands, the tankers will replace the KDC-10 of the 334 Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). The first KDC-10 has already been retired from service and is sold to Omega Aerial Refueling Services Inc from the United States. This company is the first company in the world to offer tanker capacity as a commercial company. At the moment, the last good old KDC-10 is still flying operational flights. The aircraft is still used daily to refuel the F-16s of the Royal Netherlands Air Force and aircraft of the partner countries. The KDC-10 is old and worn out, because the aircraft regularly breaks down with technical defects. In the meantime, the MMU is working hard to qualify the new tankers for their operational use. Until all tankers and especially the associated crews are fully deployable, the last operational KDC-10 of the Royal Netherlands Air Force will still complete its mission in full glory. The aircraft will be phased out sometime in 2021. This KDC-10 is the last of its kind still in use in Europe. After the retirement, this aircraft will also be sold to Omega Aerial Refueling Services Inc. Until. The KDC-10 still gives color to the Royal Netherlands Air Force and the aircraft is a favorite with many aircraft enthusiasts. Times are changing and the Airbus A330 MRTT will soon become the familiar sight in European airspace.
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