Spain’s First Airbus A330 MRTT Officially Enters Service with the 45th Wing

The Spanish Air and Space Force has officially welcomed its first Airbus A330 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) into operational service. The milestone aircraft, the first of three ordered by the Spanish Ministry of Defence in November 2021, will be based at Torrejón de Ardoz Air Base near Madrid, and operated by the 45th Wing.

The delivery was completed at Airbus’ Getafe conversion centre, also located in Madrid, where the wide-body aircraft was transformed into one of the world’s most advanced multi-mission tankers.

“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.”

Equipped with a state-of-the-art hose-and-basket refuelling system, the aircraft offers unmatched versatility and endurance, capable of flying over 18 hours with a range of 16,000 kilometres. Its 111-tonne basic fuel capacity enables extensive aerial refuelling missions without the need for auxiliary tanks, making it the only fully operational new-generation tanker and strategic airlifter currently available.

Beyond its refuelling capability, the A330 MRTT serves as a strategic transport aircraft, able to carry up to 300 troops or a 45-tonne payload. It can also be rapidly configured for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions, equipped with intensive care units and stretcher modules.

The two remaining aircraft in the Spanish A330 MRTT fleet are currently undergoing conversion at the Getafe facility. Before conversion, these aircraft have already supported critical missions, such as transporting military personnel for the Pacific Skies 2024 exercise and evacuating Spanish nationals from Niger and Sudan.

This delivery marks a significant enhancement in Spain’s global air mobility, humanitarian response, and defence capabilities, while also strengthening NATO and EU interoperability.