UAE Receives First of Two New Airbus A330 MRTTs
New delivery enhances UAE's aerial refueling capabilities with next-gen upgrades and advanced defense systems
UAE Receives First of Two Additional Airbus A330 MRTTs
The UAE Air Force and Air Defense have taken delivery of an additional A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft from Airbus at Al Ain Air Base in Abu Dhabi.
It is the first of two additional aircraft ordered in 2021, which will include upgrades to the country’s existing fleet.
In 2013, the first three A330s in the Gulf nation’s fleet went into service.
This most recent delivery means that four of the five scheduled flights are now in the UAE.
In July 2024, the Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force expanded its fleet by acquiring four more A330 aircraft outside of the United Arab Emirates.
Next Gen Tanker Fighter
In 2022, Israel-based defense company Elbit Systems announced that it will integrate the J-MUSIC self-defense suite into Airbus transport aircraft used by the United Arab Emirates Air Force.
The system improves aircraft 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 be certified for air-to-air refueling.
The aircraft achieved another milestone in July this year when it successfully completed an automated air-to-air refueling mission at night.
