South Korea activates first Airbus A330-200 MRTT aerial refuelling aircraft

The first Airbus A330 MRTT of the Republic of Korea Air Force. Photo c/o Airbus.

The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has accepted and activated its first Airbus A330-200 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft on 30 January 2019.

This is the first unit of 4 ordered in a deal worth US$1.3 billion.

The South Korean examples are powered by the Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, with the Airbus Refuelling Boom System, and can be configured into several layouts to carry passengers, freight, or for medical evacuation purposes.

This makes South Korea the 7th A330 MRTT operator out of the 12 countries that ordered the type. In total, Airbus claims that there are already 35 A330 MRTT in service globally.

Airbus competed against the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus, and Israel Aerospace Industries using a modified Boeing B767-300 MRTT in a competition that was decided on June 2015 in favour of Airbus.

It was found that the A330 MRTT could carry more fuel over a greater distance than both the KC-46 and B767-300 MRTT, while still being able to carry 45 tons of cargo while being a tanker due to not losing its underfloor cargo space to auxiliary fuel tanks.

The A330 MRTT retains its windows to allow carrying 292 passengers in airliner level comfort, compared to the KC-46 which is based on a windowless freighter variant of the Boeing 767.



[1] Airbus
[2] IHS Jane’s
[3] Defense News