South Korea Becomes 7th A330 MRTT Operator
On 30 January the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) took delivery of its first A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft. The service has four MRTTs on order, with deliveries scheduled to be completed this year, according to the World Defence Almanac 2018 (available here).
The new-generation A330 MRTT extends the endurance and range of the RoKAF’s fighter aircraft and provides the service with strategic transport capability for both passengers and freight. In South Korean service, the A330 MRTT will be powered by Rolls-Royce TRENT 700 engines, be equipped with the Airbus Refuelling Boom System, and can be configured in a variety of layouts to carry passengers and freight or for medevac purposes.
South Korea becomes the seventh member of the worldwide family of A330 MRTT operators and is one of 12 nations to have ordered the aircraft. This latest delivery brings the total in-service fleet to 35.
“The A330 MRTT has clearly established itself as the world’s premier tanker and strategic transport aircraft, and has been widely praised by the current operators. It will be a critical asset of the RoKAF and leading air forces worldwide for many decades,” commented Airbus Executive Vice President, Fernando Alonso.
