First KC-30 for the MMU arrives

摘要

THE MULTINATIONAL MRTT Unit (MMU) took delivery of its first KC-30 (A330-243) Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) at Eindhoven Air Base, the Netherlands, on June 30. Handover of serial T-055 (MRTT055/M2) marked a major milestone for NATO and the European partners in the programme that was initiated by the European Defence Agency (EDA) in 2012. To date, eight aircraft have been ordered, to form the Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF). The second aircraft was due to be delivered to Eindhoven at the end of July; deliveries of the other six will be completed by the end of 2024. Several organisations and countries are involved in the European defence co-operation to jointly purchase and operate the KC-30. NATO's OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation) agency is responsible for the acquisition phase and the first two years of operation. Authority will then transfer to the NSPA (NATO Support and Procurement Agency) that will be responsible for life-cycle management of the fleet. The aircraft will be operated within the MMF and flown by crews assigned to the MMU.