Article Posted on : - Feb 10, 2013

The A330 Multi-role Transport Tanker aircraft. An Airbus Military photo

MADRID (BNS): The United Arab Emirates has received the first of three new generation A330 MRTT multi-role tanker transport aircraft from Airbus Military.

The aircraft converted from an Airbus A330 commercial passenger jet will serve with the UAE Air Force and Air Defence.

The remaining two aircraft are at an advanced stage of conversion and will be delivered by mid-2013, according to Airbus Military.

The A330 MRTT is equipped with two underwing refuelling pods, the fly-bywire Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS), and a Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI) enabling it to be refuelled from another tanker.

It is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines and has 256 passenger seats.

The aircraft is capable of conducting refuelling operations with UAE Air Force and Air Defence fighters such as the Mirage 2000 and F-16.