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The Royal Saudi Air Force will acquire EADS' A330 Multi-Role Tanker/Transport (MRTT). Saudi Arabia's A330 MRTTs will have total mission flexibility, equipped with EADS' centerline-mounted advanced Air Refueling Boom System (ARBS) and a pair of underwing hose and drogue refueling pods. The configuration is similar to that specified for the Royal Australian Air Force's refueling aircraft, as well as proposed for the Northrop Grumman KC-30 tanker offered in the U.S. Air Force KC-135 replacement competition.

The twin-engine A330 MRTT/KC-30 advanced tanker provides exceptional capability for in-flight refueling, plus full flexibility in cargo delivery, passenger transport, aeromedical evacuation and other missions. Its flexibility and capacity for multirole missions is said to exceed other refueling platforms offered on the market today, as recognized by the Saudi selection of the A330 MRTT over its competitor, the KC-767.

The A330 MRTT production is well under way, with the Royal Australian Air Force's No. 1 aircraft being readied for delivery. Its mission equipment includes the fly-by-wire Air Refueling Boom System, a pair of underwing refueling pods and an electronic warfare self-protection suite to counter surface-to-air missiles.

EADS' ARBS has undergone a rigorous flight test program, including its first airborne contacts with an F-16 fighter. This all-electric fly-by-wire system provides highly accurate, reliable in-flight refueling and is the result of a three-year, $100 million EADS self-funded research and development effort.
In addition to the A330 MRTT successes in Australia, the U.K., UAE and Saudi Arabia, EADS has delivered tankers based on the A310 aircraft to the air forces of Canada and Germany.

EADS North America has 12 operating companies located in 31 cities and 17 states offering advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.