4 A330 MRTT Customer Versions Underway in Spain

(Madrid, April 28, 2010) -- Work is now well underway on the first Airbus Military A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), meaning that aircraft for all four current MRTT customers are in conversion.

The latest aircraft to begin the process is the first of three for the UAE which will all be completed by Airbus Military. They are configured with Airbus Military's advanced Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) and two underwing hose-and-drogue refuelling pods.

This aircraft joins those for Australia, Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom, which are already under conversion in Spain. Altogether five MRTTs are now undergoing conversion, and two are flying and in final certification testing.

Head of Airbus Military Derivatives Antonio Caramazana said: "All of these programmes are making excellent progress and demonstrating the increasing maturity of the conversion process. We very much look forward to delivering the first aircraft this year."

Source : Airbus, an EADS N.V. company (Paris: EAD.PA)