The Airbus A330 MRTT: How A Passenger Jet Became A Key Military Asset

The Airbus Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) has slowly become the default freight of choice for many global air forces, as it is a capable plane that can be used to refuel combat and non-combat aircraft, haul troops and cargo, and serve as a surge capacity outlet for when operators are in a state of crisis. An aircraft built from the proven Airbus A330-200 airliner and converted in Getafe, Spain, the MRTT blends the reliability of a top-shelf commercial aircraft with military-grade mission systems. The aircraft features a fly-by-wire refueling boom, under-wing hose-and-drogue pods, mission avionics, and a flexible cabin and cargo hold. This combination delivers unusually high fuel offload with the lifting capabilities of a true widebody.