Additional A330 MRTTs for Saudi Arabia

On 10 July 2024, Airbus Defence and Space announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ordered four additional Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF).

The contract includes a logistics support package with spare parts, training services, and service support for the new aircraft.

The new aircraft will enter the conversion line to MRTT in early 2026, with first deliveries planned for 2027.

All RSAF A330 MRTTs are configured with hose and drogue pods, a boom system, and a refuelling receptacle, allowing the A330 MRTT to be refuelled from boom-equipped tankers.

This is the third contract signed by Saudi Arabia for the A330 MRTT.

According to the Scramble Magazine database, the RSAF operates the following six A330MRTTs with 24 Squadron at Al Kharj/Prince Sultan Air Base:

2401 (c/n 980), MRTT010, ex F-WWYR/EC-338, delivered 25 June 2013
2402 (c/n 996), MRTT011, ex F-WWKT/EC-331, delivered 15 February 2013
2403 (c/n 1235), MRTT012, ex F-WWKE/EC-330, delivered 23 January 2013
2404 (c/n 1379), MRTT030, ex F-WWYJ/EC-340, delivered 23 April 2014
2405 (c/n 1478), MRTT031, ex F-WWYT/EC-338, delivered 27 March 2015
2406 (c/n 1516), MRTT032, ex F-WWKS/EC-337, delivered 15 June 2015

The new order will bring the total to ten aircraft. A330-243 (c/n 2060) was seen in primer at Toulouse on 23 March 2024 as F-WWYR. It is reported to be for Saudi Arabia.

Credit photo: Steven Picalausa (scramble Archive)