Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

Spain and Poland have agreed on a joint acquisition of at least seven Airbus A330MRTT multirole tanker/transports. Approved by Spain’s Council of Ministers on August 25, the agreement will see Spain acquire at least three and Poland four. 

The value of the seven-year framework agreement, which makes use of the European Union’s Security Action for Europe long-maturity financing instrument,  is estimated at €5.4 billion ($6.3 billion). It covers introduction to service and a seven-year logistics support program.

Poland and Spain’s new aircraft are almost certainly to be of the A330MRTT+ variant, which is based on the latest A330-800neo airliner, rather than the earlier A330-200 model. Thailand is the launch customer for the MRTT+, with a single aircraft due to be delivered in 2029.

For Spain the new aircraft will at least double the size of its tanker fleet. Three former Iberia A330-200 airliners were acquired and have been converted by Airbus at its Getafe facility in the Madrid suburbs. 

The first of these entered service last year with the air force’s Grupo 45 at Torrejón to the north of the Spanish capital. They are outfitted with underwing refueling pods, but do not have the ARBS boom system. 

Poland has a long-held ambition to have some form of tanker and strategic transport capability, and it was initially thought that it would join the NATO Multinational MRTT Force (MMF). However, it has decided to acquire a national capability, not only to support its growing fleet of F-16 and F-35 fighters, but also to provide long-distance personal and cargo transport, and for use on humanitarian missions. 

Originally Poland was eyeing a pair of A330MRTTs, but the joint-purchase agreement has partly permitted a doubling of the number to be acquired. Although a contract has yet to be signed, Poland is preparing to receive its first aircraft in 2030. The MRTTs will almost certainly be fitted with the ARBS boom for compatibility with the air force’s principal fighter types.

Displacing Boeing KC-46As

The latest announcement potentially seals the A330MRTT as Europe’s tanker/transport of choice, and follows on from an order for six by Italy. Signed on April 16, the deal was noteworthy as Italy had initially selected the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus to complement and replace its current Boeing KC-767 tankers. That decision was rescinded in 2024, leading to a new evaluation.

Canada has nine A330 MRTTs on order, while NATO’s MMF continues to add aircraft as new partner nations join the program. Sweden and Denmark joined in 2025, and Finland signed up earlier this year. As a result, the fleet is growing from its current nine to 12. 

Separate from the A330 deal, Poland is in negotiations with Airbus over the acquisition of the A400M airlifter, as confirmed recently by deputy defense minister Pawel Zalewski. Poland is already a member of a NATO group proposing a more streamlined use of the A400M fleet on a multinational basis.

The addition of A400Ms would provide a dramatic boost to the air force’s airlift capacity, which currently relies on seven C-130E/H Hercules. A replacement for them is also being sought, with the C-130J and C-390 as front-runners.