The United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence have taken delivery of an additional A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft from Airbus at the Al Ain Air Base in Abu Dhabi.
It is the first of two additional planes from an order placed in 2021 that also included upgrades to the country’s existing fleet.
The Gulf country’s initial fleet of three A330s entered service in 2013.
As of this latest delivery, the UAE now possesses four out of the five planned aircraft.
Aside from the UAE, the Royal Saudi Arabia Air Force procured four additional A330s in July 2024 as part of its fleet expansion.
Next-Gen Tanker Combat Aircraft
In 2022, Israel-based defense firm Elbit Systems announced that it would integrate the J-MUSIC self-protection suite into the Airbus transport aircraft used by the UAE Air Force.
The system enhances the aircraft’s survivability against infrared missile threats through its advanced laser fiber technology, high frame-rate thermal camera, and dynamic, high-speed sealed-mirror turret.
In July of the same year, the A330 MRTT became the world’s first tanker to receive an automatic air-to-air refueling certification.
The aircraft achieved another milestone in July this year when it successfully completed an automatic air-to-air refueling mission at night.
