Saudi Arabia has signed a deal to purchase four Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, as announced by the defense ministry on Wednesday. The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF), already an operator of the A330 MRTT, uses these aircraft for air-to-air refueling and transport roles.
This latest deal, the third of its kind, includes technology transfer to local companies, a logistics support package with spare parts, training, and service support, Airbus said in a statement. The first of these new aircraft is expected to join the RSAF fleet in 2027.
Jean-Brice Dumont, head of air power at Airbus Defence and Space, noted that with this contract, the RSAF becomes one of the largest MRTT operators. Earlier this year, Airbus and Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) signed an agreement to localize the manufacture of multi-mission refuelling aircraft and their components.
Saudi Arabia aims to allocate more than 50% of its military spending on domestic equipment and services by 2030.
