Saudi Arabia has ordered four additional Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF), according to a press release.
The first of these aircraft will begin conversion at the start of 2026 and will join the RSAF in 2027 to carry out air-to-air refuelling and transport missions.
“This new order demonstrates the high level of customer satisfaction with the A330 MRTT,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space, quoted in the press release.
“This is the third contract signed by Saudi Arabia for the A330 MRTT, making the RSAF one of the largest MRTT operators in the world.”
The contract also includes a logistics support package, which provides spare parts, training services, and service support for the four new aircraft, as noted in the press release.
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.
In January 2024, Airbus signed an Industrial Participation (IP) agreement with the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) as part of this contract. The agreement aims to develop and grow the industrial ecosystem in the region in support of Vision 2030, a Saudi-government programme to diversify the country’s economy.
This agreement also includes the transfer of technology and know-how of the RSAF A330 MRTT to local companies. The joint venture created between Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and Airbus, known as SAAMS, will be the main vehicle for industrial localisation, according to the press release.
All good for the UK airo industry.
Indeed.
They have both types of refuelling and we don’t……in spite of having aircraft on fleet we cannot refuel.
Doesn’t do a lot for operational independence around say Falkland’s and other places.
Somebody will correct me on this but I *think* with the AAR capacity we now have you *could* [theoretically because of the lack of fitted equipment] operate P8 and E7 out of Ascension *if* the right fitments to transfer fuel were on the frames…..
This order gives Saudi Arabia 10 aircraft in total ( I stand to be correct on that) it makes you wonder why they want so many ?
Long range ineffective bombing campaigns?
Indeed, essentially Saudi have been fighting a proxy war with Iran..They have been going at each other since the late 1970s and the Arab Iranian war shows no sign of lessening…these are idea enablers for a regional proxy war for regional hegemony..which is what Saudi and Iran are doing.
True, not easy to find exactly what missiles the Saudi Air force can deploy , but I guess not many stand off types. Apart from King Khalid Air Base, most of the airbase seems to be quite a way from Yemen
Hmmm, wonder whether USAF would select KC-46A again over A330 MRTT, given the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. The saga of KC-46A is complex, costly and controversial. If Airbus had continued to team w/ Northrop Grumman for proposal submission, believe contract award would now be a very sporting proposition. Boeing currently is in a less than favored status by significant portions of Uncle Sugar’s bureaucracy. 🤔😳😉
On that note, I see the Italians have reopened their tanker replacement due to delays in the KC 46, have to assume the A330 is in with another four there.
That is the natural course in the capitalist system. Do not fully understand the Boeing (management) saga. In days of yore, Boeing (especially BMAC division) commanded significant respect from USAF, especially in the engineering and production arenas. 🤔
That will keep some of my mates in KSA on contract then. Lots of them who were BAe were transferred over to local aerospace providers. No real difference to be fair…except they actually get more holiday time !