Video: First A330 MRTT aircraft of the Spanish Air Force enters service

The Spanish Air and Space Force has officially received its first Airbus A330 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport), which is already operational with the 45th Wing based at Torrejón de Ardoz Air Base, in Madrid.

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The delivery marks the beginning of a new era for the country’s strategic airlift, aerial refueling, and evacuation capabilities.

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The aircraft is the first of three units acquired by the Spanish Ministry of Defence in November 2021. Its conversion was carried out at Airbus facilities in Getafe (Madrid), home to the A330 MRTT modification center.

“With the entry into service of this first A330 MRTT, the Spanish Air and Space Force now has the best tanker aircraft in the world,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space. “In addition to offering interoperability with allied nations and strategic autonomy, the MRTT will significantly enhance projection, air evacuation, and in-flight refueling capabilities.”

The Spanish A330 MRTT is equipped with the most advanced hose and drogue aerial refueling system, offering more than 18 hours of flight autonomy and a range exceeding 16,000 kilometers. With a fuel capacity of 111 tonnes, it can perform refueling missions without the need for additional tanks.

Thanks to its wide fuselage, the A330 MRTT can also be configured as a transport aircraft, with capacity for up to 300 troops or 45 tonnes of cargo. Additionally, it can be fitted with medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) kits, including stretcher modules and intensive care units.

The second and third aircraft in the Spanish A330 MRTT fleet are currently undergoing conversion, also in Getafe. Until now, the 45th Wing had been operating the unconverted A330s on strategic transport missions, such as the Pacific Skies exercise in 2024 and the evacuations of Spanish citizens from Niger and Sudan.

Source and images: Airbus Defence and Space. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.