Additional A330MRTTs for UAEAF

The United Arab Emirates Air Force (UEAF) has ordered two additional Airbus A330 Multirole Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft. The new tankers are scheduled to be delivered in 2024.

The UAEAF already operates three A330MRTTs with the MRTT Squadron based at Al Ain air base. The first MRTT was delivered on 6 February 2013 and the other two were delivered by 6 August 2013.

The UAEAF tankers are equipped with both an Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) and two Cobham 905E under-wing refuelling pods. The ARBS units include a secondary boom hoist developed for the UAE. This system permits the boom to be retracted, even in the event of a primary boom retraction system failure.

Photo by Rod Brown (Scramble Archive)