Airbus Opens Seville MRTT Center, Lifting A330 Tanker Output to 7 a Year
Updated
Updated · Aviation Week · May 20
Airbus Opens Seville MRTT Center, Lifting A330 Tanker Output to 7 a Year
3 articles · Updated · Aviation Week · May 20
Airbus said it will add a new A330 MRTT conversion center at San Pablo in Seville, ending Getafe’s status as the sole conversion site in Spain.
The expansion raises annual MRTT conversion capacity to seven aircraft from five as demand grows for air-to-air refueling and strategic transport fleets.
Seville will handle not only conversions but also MRO and upgrades for in-service MRTTs, with Airbus planning infrastructure upgrades and workforce training at the site.
Italy has recently committed to buy six MRTTs, while Airbus’ backlog already includes aircraft for NATO’s multinational tanker unit, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Thailand.
Airbus is betting more nations will order the tanker as militaries seek longer-range combat-aircraft operations and stronger strategic airlift capability.
How will the next-gen A330 MRTT evolve from a gas station in the sky to a battlespace command center?
Is this tanker expansion a key step towards a European military that can operate without US airpower?
As Boeing's tanker struggles, is Airbus's new facility a final blow in the global air-refueling war?