Canada buys nine Airbus A330 MRTT aerial refuelling aircraft for $2.7 billion

The Royal Canadian Air Force wants to upgrade its fleet of aerial refuellers. For this purpose, the Department of National Defence is allocating several billion dollars.

Here's What We Know

Canada will receive nine A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft from Airbus. The CA$3.6bn ($2.7bn) contract will buy five new A330 MRTTs and modify four A330-200s to save taxpayers money.

One of the five A330-200s will be used to transport senior government officials. It will be the first to be delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force. Deliveries of the new aircraft will begin in 2027.

The Airbus A330 MRTTs are intended to replace Canada's aging fleet of aerial refuelling aircraft, which consists of CC-150 Polaris. Canada has five aircraft, but only two of them are capable of refuelling other aircraft.

Ottawa had previously considered buying the KC-46 Pegasus. In 2021, Canadian authorities abandoned the idea of ordering Boeing aircraft, and in May 2022, they approached Airbus with a request to purchase A330 MRTTs. By the way, they will be designated as CC-330 Husky.

Source: Breaking Defence