Aircraft
NATO Adds Ninth A330 Tanker/Transport
The latest order comes as a result of Luxembourg deciding to expand its participation in the program by 1,000 hours annually.
The MMF now has two A330 MRTTs in service and expects to have four in use by the end of the year. (Photo: NATO)
The MMF now has two A330 MRTTs in service and expects to have four in use by the end of the year. (Photo: NATO)

Airbus has received an order for an A330 MRTT (multi-role tanker/transport) from the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), which is acting on behalf of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency. The aircraft adds to eight that are already on contract for the Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF). The ninth aircraft is the first of three options in the existing contract to be taken up.

The MMF has six participating nations (Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and Norway), each of which “buys in” to the program in terms of annual flying hours. Luxembourg, along with the Netherlands, launched the MMF program in July 2016 and has now decided to increase its annual allocation from 200 to 1,200 flying hours. The extra requirement justifies the acquisition of an additional aircraft.