Spain’s First Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport Now Operational
The Spanish Air and Space Force announced April 11 that its first Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport is now operational with its 45th Wing.
The tanker was declared operational after arriving at its home base of Torrejón de Ardoz Air Base near Madrid from Airbus’ Getafe facility, where it underwent modifications converting it to MRTT specifications.
The Spanish MRTT is equipped with refueling drogues to support probe-and-drogue aerial refueling, and can carry up to 111 tons of fuel to support both itself and the aircraft it refuels, with Airbus claiming flight endurance of over 18 flight hours and a range of 16,000 kilometers.
Spanish Secretary of State Amparo Valcarce said the milestone was a contribution to Europe’s defence and to NATO, adding that it gave Spain the confidence to live up to its international security commitments.
“With the entry into service of this first A330 MRTT, the Spanish Air and Space Force now has the world’s best tanker aircraft in its fleet,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space. “The MRTT will not only provide interoperability with allied nations and strategic autonomy, but will also significantly increase projection, aerial evacuation and in-flight refuelling capabilities.”
Like other A330 MRTTs, the Spanish MRTT can be used as a transport aircraft capable of carrying up to 300 troops or a payload of up to 45 tonnes (99,000 lb). Additionally, the tanker can be configured with a dedicated medical evacuation kit, allowing the installation of different stretcher modules and intensive-care stations.
The Spanish Air and Space Force acquired three A330s in 2021 for conversion into MRTTs. According to Airbus, the second and third Airbus A330 MRTTs for Spain are currently undergoing conversion at Getafe. Prior to their conversions, the 45th Wing of the Spanish Air used the unconverted A330s to transport military personnel and equipment, such as for the Pacific Skies exercise in 2024 or the evacuation of Spanish nationals from Niger or Sudan.