Airbus has received an order for an Airbus A330 MRTT Multi-Role Tanker Transport from OCCAR, Europe’s organisation for the management of cooperative armament programmes.
The order, which OCCAR has placed on behalf of NATO’s Support & Procurement Agency (NSPA), follows the decision from Luxembourg to maximise its participation into the Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF) programme with a significant increase from 200 to 1,200 flight hours contracted.
“This new order comes after the successful delivery of the first two aircraft, with training and operational activities already in place. The additional aircraft will provide greater availability of the MMF fleet, enabling other NATO nations to cover their needs in air-to-air refuelling, strategic transport and medical evacuation. The MMF programme is funded by the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Germany, Belgium and Czech Republic who have the exclusive right to operate the NATO–owned aircraft in a pooling arrangement, a prime example of European operational defence collaboration.
The aircraft will be configured for in-flight refuelling, the transport of passengers and cargo, and medical evacuation operations. The European Defence Agency (EDA) initiated the MMF programme in 2012. OCCAR manages the MMF acquisition phase as Contract Executing Agent on behalf of NSPA. Following the acquisition phase, NSPA will be responsible for the complete life-cycle management of the fleet.”
Airbus say that the aircraft is part of the three additional options originally included in the contract and will increase the MMF fleet to nine aircraft.
I have posted this before but still valid and could help reduce cost and capcity for, Tanking, AEW, Maritime Patrol etc..
“Here’s an idea. Boeing has about 400 +/-, 737 Max planes in storage. Even if these planes get permission to carry passengers, and this is not certain. It is highly likely that passengers would have no confidence flying in them.
Why not buy a couple of dozen at bargain basement prices and convert them to missile trucks for F-35’s or basic Patrol/Strike/Ground Support aircraft or Surveillance.”
EU aviation regulators have scheduled flight tests for Boeing’s troubled 737 Max plane. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said the tests would take place in Vancouver, Canada in the week beginning 7 September.The announcement comes two months after US regulators began similar test flights for the jet.”
The software problem may be fixable,but given the delay a quick fix is obviously not on. It will be extremely difficult to gain the confidence of the public. Commercial Airlines after Covid cannot risk investing billions in a plane that the public has no confidence in. But the RAF, if confident that the problem has been fixed satisfactorially, could save billions and greatly increase capabilities.”