Airbus A330 MRTT The Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport ( MRTT ) is an aerial refuelling tanker aircraft based on the civilian Airbus A330 - 200 . The A330 MRTT has been ordered by the Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF ) , Royal Air Force ( RAF ) , United Arab Emirates Air Force , and Royal Saudi Air Force . The EADS / Northrop Grumman KC - 45 was a version of the A330 MRTT proposed for the United States Air Force . Design and development . The Airbus A330 MRTT is a military derivative of the A330 - 200 airliner . It is designed as a dual - role air - to - air refuelling and transport aircraft . For air - to - air refuelling missions the A330 MRTT can be equipped with a combination of any of the following systems : The A330 MRTT has a maximum fuel capacity of without the use of additional fuel tanks , which leaves space for the carriage of of additional cargo . The A330 MRTT ' s wing has common structure with the four - engine A340 - 200 / - 300 with reinforced mounting locations and provision for fuel piping for the A340 ' s outboard engines . The A330 MRTT ' s wing therefore requires little modification for use of these hardpoint s for the wing refuelling pods . The A330 MRTT cabin can be modified to carry up to 380 passengers in a single class configuration , allowing a complete range of configurations from maximised troop transport to complex customisation suitable for VIP and guest missions . The A330 MRTT can also be configured to perform Medical Evacuation ( Medevac ) missions ; up to 130 standard stretchers can be carried . The main deck cargo configuration allows carriage of standard commercial containers and pallets , military , ISO and NATO pallets ( including seats ) and containers , and military equipment and other large items which are loaded through a cargo door . Like the A330 - 200 , the A330 MRTT includes two lower deck cargo compartments ( forward and aft ) and a bulk area capability . The cargo hold has been modified to be able to transport up to 8 military pallets in addition to civilian Unit Load Device ( ULD ) . An optional crew rest compartment ( CRC ) , located in the forward cabin can be installed for a spare crew in order to increase time available for a mission . The passenger cabin of the A330 MRTT can be provided with a set of removable airstairs to enable embarkation and disembarkation when airbridges or ground support equipment are not available . Standard commercial A330 - 200s are delivered from Airbus Final Assembly Line in Toulouse ( France ) to Airbus Military Conversion Centre in Getafe , Spain for fitting of refuelling systems and military avionics . The tanker was certified by Spanish authorities in October 2010 . It was first delivered to Australia on 1 June 2011 . Qantas Defence Services converted the remaining four A330 - 200s at its Brisbane Airport facility on behalf of EADS for the Royal Australian Air Force . Operational history . The A330 MRTT has been ordered by Australia , United Kingdom , United Arab Emirates , and Saudi Arabia . Australia was the launch customer for the A330 MRTT . Australia . The refuelling aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF ) will be equipped with both an Aerial Refuelling Boom System ( ARBS ) and two Cobham 905E under - wing refuelling pods . The aircraft are powered by two General Electric CF6 - 80E engines . Australia was initially to procure four aircraft with an option to obtain a fifth . It has since decided to procure the fifth aircraft to allow for two simultaneous deployments of two aircraft , with the fifth for contingency coverage . Australia ' s A330 MRTT aircraft will be operated by No . 33 Squadron RAAF based at RAAF Base Amberley . Australia has designated the aircraft " KC - 30A " Multi - Role Tanker Transport . Upon selecting the A330 MRTT in 2005 , the RAAF expected that deliveries would begin in late 2008 and be completed in 2010 . Deliveries have since been two years behind schedule , in part because of delays in the development of the boom . On 30 May 2011 , KC - 30A A39 - 003 , the third converted A330 , arrived at RAAF Base Amberley and was formally handed over to the RAAF on 1 June 2011 . The second A330 conversion , A39 - 002 was ferried to RAAF Amberley on 18 June 2011 and handed over to the RAAF on 22 June 2011 . In June 2010 , Qantas Defence Services announced receipt of the fourth aircraft to its Brisbane facilities , with an anticipated 10 - month conversion . The final fifth A330 MRTT aircraft was delivered to RAAF on 3 December 2012 . In August 2013 the KC - 30A made its debut as a VIP transport , ferrying Prime Minister Rudd and an entourage to Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates . United Kingdom . In January 2004 the UK Ministry of Defence announced that a variant of the A330 MRTT had been selected to provide tanking service for the RAF for the next 30 years under the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft ( FSTA ) programme , replacing the RAF ' s existing L - 1011 and VC10 tankers . The Ministry of Defence then began negotiations with the AirTanker consortium . On 27 March 2008 the UK Ministry of Defence signed a deal to lease 14 aircraft under a private finance initiative arrangement from EADS - led consortium AirTanker , with the first aircraft to enter service in 2011 . There are two versions , designated Voyager KC2 and Voyager KC3 ; the former will be fitted with two Cobham 905E under - wing refuelling pods , the latter with a Cobham 805E Fuselage Refuelling Unit ( FRU ) in addition to the under - wing pods . None of the RAF aircraft are fitted with the Aerial Refuelling Boom System ( ARBS ) . Both versions of Voyager are powered by a pair of Rolls - Royce Trent 772B - 60 engines . As of 31 August 2013 six aircraft have been delivered . When not required to support the Royal Air Force , Voyagers are operated by AirTanker Services as certified civilian aircraft for charter flights . United Arab Emirates . In 2007 , the United Arab Emirates announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus to purchase three A330 MRTT . EADS , Airbus ' s parent company , announced the signing of a contract with UAE in February 2008 . The UAE aircraft will be equipped with both an ARBS and two Cobham 905E under - wing refuelling pods . The ARBS units installed on the these tankers include a secondary boom hoist developed for the UAE . This system permits the boom to be retracted , even in the event of a primary boom retraction system failure . The United Arab Emirates Air Force selected the Rolls - Royce Trent 700 for its tankers . The first A330 MRTT for the UAE was delivered on 6 February 2013 . The remaining two had been be delivered by 6 August 2013 . Saudi Arabia . Saudi Arabia finalized an agreement to purchase three A330 MRTT equipped with both an Aerial Refuelling Boom System ( ARBS ) and two Cobham 905E under - wing refuelling pods , on 3 January 2008 . In July 2009 it was announced that Saudi Arabia ordered three additional A330 MRTT tankers . RSAF chose the General Electric CF6 - 80 to power its A330 MRTTs . As of 31 August 2013 three aircraft have been delivered . On 25 February 2013 the first A330 MRTT has been placed in operational use . Three more A330 MRTTs have been ordered in a follow - on contract . Delivery is expected in late 2014 . Possible operators . India . The Il - 78 and Airbus 330 MRTT were competing for a global tender floated in 2006 by the Indian defence ministry for six refuellers to extend the operating radius of Indian fighter jets . In May 2009 , India finally chose the Airbus A330 MRTT over the Il - 78 . However in January 2010 , the government cancelled the order citing high cost as the reason , reportedly against the wishes of the Air Force . After rebidding , India selected Airbus as its " preferred vendor " in November 2012 . In January 2013 , it was reported that India had again selected Airbus ' A330MRTT as " preferred bid " . Others . In November 2011 , France expressed interest in acquiring 14 A330 MRTTs to replace its KC - 135 tankers , A340 and A310 transports . In February 2012 , Singapore also expressed interest in the A330 MRTT to replace its four KC - 135s . Failed bids . Brazil . The A330 - based tankers lost in a bid for the Brazilian Air Force KC - X2 Program . Instead IAI won the contract for two 767 - 300ER tanker conversions . United States . The U . S . Air Force ( USAF ) ran a procurement program to replace around 100 of their oldest KC - 135E Stratotankers , i . e . , initially excluding the more common updated KC - 135R variant . EADS offered the A330 MRTT . The Boeing KC - 767 was selected in 2002 ; however the USAF cancelled the KC - 767 order upon the uncovering of illegal manipulation and corrupt practices during the competition . In 2006 , the USAF released a new request for proposal ( RFP ) for a tanker aircraft , which was updated in January 2007 , to the KC - X RFP , one of three acquisition programs that are intended to replace the entire KC - 135 fleet . The Airbus A330 MRTT was proposed again by EADS and Northrop Grumman as the " KC - 30 " . It again competed against the Boeing KC - 767 , which is a smaller aircraft ( holds about 20 percent less fuel ) , less cargo , but is also cheaper . Northrop and EADS announced plans to assemble the aircraft at a new facility in Mobile , Alabama , which would also build A330 freighters . The Air Force announced on 29 February 2008 , that the KC - 30 was chosen as the KC - 135 replacement , and was designated KC - 45A . On 18 June 2008 , the United States Government Accountability Office upheld a protest by Boeing on the award of the contract to Northrop Grumman and EADS . This left the status of the KC - 45A in doubt , requiring the Air Force to rebid the contract . On 24 September 2009 , the USAF began the first steps in the new round of bids , with a clearer set of criteria . On 8 March 2010 , Northrop Grumman withdrew from the bidding process , asserting that the new criteria were skewed in favor of Boeing ' s offering . On April 20 , 2010 , EADS announced it was re - entering the competition on a stand - alone basis and intended to enter a bid with the KC - 45 , still intending for Mobile to be the final assembly site . On 24 February 2011 , the USAF announced that the $ 35 billion contract had been awarded to Boeing . William J . Lynn III , the deputy defense secretary , said Boeing was “ the clear winner ” under a formula that considered the bid prices , how well each of the planes met war - fighting needs and what it would cost to operate them over 40 years . Accidents and incidents . On 19 January 2011 , an air refuelling accident occurred between a boom equipped A330 MRTT and a Portuguese Air Force F - 16 over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Spain . Early reports indicate that the boom broke off at the aft end of the boom near the F - 16 ' s receptacle which caused the boom to recoil into the underside of the A330 MRTT . The boom then became uncontrollable and oscillated until it broke off the boom assembly at the pivot point . Both aircraft were damaged , but landed safely . The A330 MRTT involved was an Airbus test aircraft destined for the RAAF ; the air arm issued a statement that the aircraft was operated by an Airbus crew with no Australian personnel on board . At the time of the incident , Airbus had not begun deliveries . On 10 September 2012 at approximately 19 : 30 ( CEST ) , an A330 MRTT ' s refuelling boom became detached in flight at an altitude of in Spanish airspace . The boom separated cleanly at a mechanical joint and fell to the ground , while the aircraft landed safely in Getafe . There were no injuries caused by the malfunction . The incident was the result of a conflict between the backup boom hoist ( fitted to the UAE - destined A330 MRTTs ) and the primary boom retraction mechanism , and was attributable to the testing being conducted . Airbus later explained that the malfunction was not possible under ordinary operating conditions , and that procedures had been designed to avoid similar incidents in the future . Following the incident , INTA , the Spanish regulatory authority , issued precautionary restrictions to other users of boom - equipped A330s .