The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has confirmed an order for a further eight A330 MRTT Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft out of the original contract for 12 A330 MRTTs signed by the French Ministry of Defence in November 2014. This brings France’s total firm order of the MRTT to nine, including the initial aircraft.
The remaining three are scheduled to be confirmed in 2018, with the first A330 MRTT being delivered the same year. The second will be delivered in 2019, and the remainder at a rate of one or two per year.
In French service the A330 MRTT will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines and equipped with a combination of a refueling boom and underwing hose- and-drogue refuelling pods. It will also be possible to configure them in a variety of layouts carrying up to 271 passengers as well as medevac arrangements including the French MORPHEE intensive care module carrying up to ten patients as well as 88 passengers.