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Spain Airbus Defence and Space
A330 MRTT
A widebody aerial-refueling tanker and transport built by Airbus Defence and Space on the A330 airliner airframe, offered with either a fly-by-wire refueling boom or hose-and-drogue pods so a single aircraft can refuel probe- and boom-equipped receivers. It is the most widely exported Western tanker of its generation, in service with NATO's Multinational MRTT Fleet and over a dozen air forces.
In service since 2011 · 10 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-26
880
km/h
14,800
km range
13,000
m ceiling
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
National export licensing
Subject to Spain export-control approval; verify eligibility with the manufacturer.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Established · 10 operators
In service since 2011. Status: active · ~66 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 880 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 860 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 14,800 km |
| Combat radius Distance an aircraft can fly, complete its mission and return without refueling. Roughly a third of ferry range. | 1,800 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 13,000 m |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 58.8 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 60.3 m |
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 17.4 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 125,000 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 233,000 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 3 |
| Cargo payload Maximum cargo the transport can carry. Higher means more lift per sortie. | 45,000 kg |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | 2x Rolls-Royce Trent 772B / GE CF6-80E1A4 / Pratt & Whitney PW4170 turbofans (customer option) |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 2 |
| Thrust Total engine thrust (with afterburner where applicable). | 320 kN |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turbofan |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 66 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 10 |
Specifications compiled from public Airbus Defence and Space and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-26.
Compare with rivals
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Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT? +
The Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT has a maximum speed of 880 km/h.
What is the range of the Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT? +
The Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT has a maximum range of 14,800 km.
How much does the Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT weigh? +
The Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT has a combat weight of 233,000 kg.
How many crew does the Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT require? +
The Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT requires a crew of 3.
What engine does the Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT use? +
The Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT is powered by the 2x Rolls-Royce Trent 772B / GE CF6-80E1A4 / Pratt & Whitney PW4170 turbofans (customer option).
What is the Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT used for? +
The Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT is a transport & tanker typically used for isr.
How many countries operate the Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT? +
The Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT is operated by 10 countries.
How much does the Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT cost? +
Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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