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| NATO Multinational MRTT Unit (MMU) |
| Latest update: April 2024 |
| OCCAR and NSPA |
| An European Defence Agency (EDA) initiative with
its member nations to acquire a Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT)
aircraft led to the NATO Multinational MRTT Unit (NATO - MMU) program,
see background below. Airbus Defence and Space was selected to deliver its A330MRTT aircraft which within the MMU program has been designated KC-30. Currently eight aircraft are on order with the contract providing an option for a further three aircraft. Within the EDA initiative The Netherlands was the lead nation which will see all aircraft being registered in the Dutch military aviation register thus receiving a Royal Netherlands Air Force serial and roundel. However the aircraft will be owned by NATO with OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'Armement / Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation) responsible for the acquisition phase and the first two years of operations. After these two years the NSPA (NATO Support & Procurement Agency) will be responsible for the life-cycle management of the weapon system. |
| MMU program status |
Until now five EDA members have decided to join
the program resulting in the purchase of the eight aircraft.
The KC-30 is based on the commercial A330.200 and its build at the Airbus plant in Toulouse, France and then flown to the Airbus plant at Getafe (Madrid), Spain to be converted to MRTT. NATO MMU's first aircraft was delivered to Getafe in October 2017. After completing its certification flights the aircraft will be used for training until May 2020 when it will be delivered to Eindhoven Air Base. Aircraft will be assigned to the NATO Multinational MRTT Unit (MMU). Five will be based at Eindhoven in the Netherlands and three at Cologne in Germany. Three options are included in the contract allowing for one or more other countries to join the program. Both the Czech Republic and Spain are interested to join and are negotiating their participation. The Czech Air Force would take 150 flights hours. The Spanish Air Force is known to have an interest in the A330MRTT as replacement for the already retired B-707 tankers. To spread the investment of the members the aircraft are already planned in the periode from January 2023 until mid 2024. Countries wishing to join the MMU will have to decide by autumn 2019 as the options will then expire. Basing of these new aircraft will be decided based on the country or countries joining the MMU. M-001 flew to the United Kingdom for painting at the end of November 2018. This aircraft will be used for extensive test and training flights prior to its delivery to Eindhoven in May 2020. The aircraft was on static display at the Royal Netherlands Air Force open days held at Volkel Air Base in June 2019. M-002 flew from Toulouse to Getafe in February 2019. M-003 should be on the production line at Toulouse.
Annually 1.100 flying hours are allocated to each individual aircraft. The breakdown of the total amount of 8.800 flying hoursby the MMU nations is as follows:
It's expected that the European Air Transport Command (EATC) will plan and execute the missions for the KC-30 fleet. |
| Air Refuelling Capability changes |
With the international cooperation to purchase a
new MRTT more tankers will become available. The KC-30 will replace the
German Air Force A310MRTT and Royal Netherlands Air Force KDC-10. Except
the Air-to-Air refuelling role the KC-30 will also be used in the
medical evacuation and passenger transport role. The German Air Force
operates a fifth A310 which is dedicated to transporting personnel and
cargo while one of its MRTTs is operated in the medevac configuration
role.
The first RNLAF KDC-10 was withdrawn from service at the end of 2019 (T-264). Its colleague will be retired by the end of 2021. |
| European Defence Agency: Air-to-Air Refueling (AAR) capability in Europe |
| The NATO Multinational Multi Role Tanker Transport
Unit (MMU) program
originated from an European Defence Agency (EDA) initiative aimed
at the shortfall of Air-to-Air Refueling (AAR) capability in Europe.
During international operations, Libya and Kosovo, several European
(NATO) countries were depending on USAF tankers (KC-10A, KC-135R/T) to
refuel their fighters. From 2012 the EDA worked on three projects:
optimalization of exiting AAR refueling assets, optimization of the
A400M AAR capability and the strategic tanker capailibty (MRTT program).
AAR became one of the four key capabilities for the EDA. 1: Optimization of existing capabilities: Most visible during the annual organized European Air Refuelling Training Exercise (EART) exercise. The first edition was held in 2014 with one of its topics standardization of processes. The European Air Transport Command (EATC) is one of the key organizations within this pillar.
2: Optimization of the A400M AAR capability: EDA focusses on the acquistion of AAR pods reducing the need for additional aircraft but increasing the amount of available tankers. During 2016 Airbus Defense and Space started the delivery of A400Ms equipped with hose and drogue under-wing refuelling pods. Earlier delivered A400Ms were already manufactured with the equipment and software allowing for a quick reconfiguration of the aircraft to a two-point tanker. Refuelling can also be done through the centerline Hose and Drum (HDU) unit.
3: Increasing the strategic tanker capability in Europe: The MMU program kicked-off in 2014 with The Netherlands taking the lead. Both Boeing with its KC-46A Pegasus and Airbus Defense and Space with its A330MRTT were invited to submit their bids. A year later it became clear the A330MRTT was selected as preferred aircraft and would receive an offer for proposal. At that time four aircraft were planned with three to be ordered by The Netherlands, Norway and Poland with one option for an additional aircraft. Luxembourg and The Netherlands placed the first order for two aircraft in 2016. Both will be delivered in 2020 and replace the two KDC-10s currently operated by 334 squadron. Germany and Norway announced to join the MMU program during the NATO summit held at Brussel in 2017 resulting in a contract to purchase five aircraft in October 2017. The contract was also augmented to include an option for four additional aircraft. At the end of December the Belgian minister of defense announced the participating of Belgium. On February 2, 2018 the contract for this aircraft was signed. On January 23 an A330MRTT from Airbus Defense & Space ) visited Eindhoven AB for a briefing and viewing of the aircraft for staff and guest of the air base. It departed the next day back to Getafe (Madrid, Spain) where the A330s are converted to MRTT. |
| MMU 'The Fleet' |
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T-054: delivered to MMU on Tuesday August 10, 2020. First operational
and AAR flight August 24, 2020. T-055: delivered to MMU on Tuesday June 30, 2020. First operational flight July 20, 2020. T-056: on production line Airbus Getafe, Spain. Comverted to MRTT and in test phase. T-057: on production line Airbus Getafe, Spain for conversion to MRTT. T-058: on production line Airbus Getafe, Spain for conversion to MRTT. T-059: production to start on production line Airbus Toulouse, France. T-060: production to start on production line Airbus Toulouse, France. T-061: production to start on production line Airbus Toulouse, France. To be delivered during 2024. T-062: ordered on 28.09.20 production to start on production line Airbus Toulouse, France. To be delivered during 2024. T-063: ordered on 28.03.23 (press release Airbus). To be delivered in 2026. |
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