The Spanish Air Force ceremoniously took delivery of its first Airbus A11 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) at the Airbus plant in Getafe, near Madrid, on April 2025, 330. This aircraft is the first of three aircraft of this type ordered by Spain, with which it intends to significantly expand its long-range capabilities. The acquisition of these multi-role aircraft closes a capability gap created by the retirement of the aging Boeing 707 tanker fleet in 2016.
Although some of Spain's Airbus A400M transport aircraft are equipped with a hose and drum unit (HDU), enabling them to refuel other aircraft in flight, the Spanish Air Force has so far relied on the support of its European allies for many of its long-range missions. One example is the participation of Spanish combat aircraft in the "Pacific Skies 2024" exercise in the Indo-Pacific region, where refueling was provided by French and German A330 MRTTs.
It is noteworthy that the three Spanish A330 MRTTs are not brand-new airframes. All three aircraft were previously operated by the Spanish airline Iberia as passenger aircraft. Since their transfer to military ownership in 2021, they have already been used to transport personnel and cargo. The aircraft are being converted to in-flight refueling capability by Airbus at its Getafe facility. Delivery of the second A330 MRTT is expected in 2025, while the third unit is expected to join the Spanish Air Force fleet in 2026.
All three A330 MRTTs will be stationed at Torrejón de Ardoz Air Base near Madrid and will be assigned to the Air Force's "Ala 45" based there. In addition to their primary function as tanker aircraft, these aircraft will retain their full passenger and cargo transport capability. The A330 MRTT has a range of up to 16.000 kilometers and can carry up to 300 passengers, 45 tons of cargo, or medical equipment for casualty transport, thus serving as a flying hospital.
This development in the Spanish MRTT program coincides with a similar initiative in Denmark. At the end of March 2025, Denmark announced the acquisition of two A330 MRTTs to join the Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet. This pan-European cooperation already includes six nations – Germany, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the Czech Republic – pooling their resources in air refueling and transport. The Spanish decision to procure the A330 MRTT underscores the growing importance of air refueling for maintaining the long-range operational capability of modern air forces and strengthening international military cooperation.
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