The Canadian government has awarded Airbus Defence and Space a contract for four newly-built Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft and the conversion of five used A330-200s to strengthen Canada’s continental defence capabilities. The order value of the present contract is approximately CAD 3 billion or €2.1 billion (excluding taxes).
This new fleet of aircraft, known as the Strategic Tanker Transport Capability (STTC), will replace the antiquated CC-150 Polaris (A310 MRTT) aircraft currently operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The current A310 fleet is used for air-to-air replenishment operations, military and personnel and cargo airlift, medical evacuations and strategic transportation of Canadian government officials.
As the most advanced multirole tanker aircraft in the world, the A330 MRTT perfectly satisfies Canada’s requirements for protecting its sovereignty and enhancing operations within the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) and NATO, according to Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space. In addition to enhancing interoperability with other allied A330 MRTT customer nations, he added that Canada improves operations due to the aircraft’s technological superiority over its global competition.
A330-200s will be assembled at the Final Assembly Line for A330 aircraft in Toulouse, France. The first MRTT is scheduled to begin conversion at A330 MRTT facilities in Getafe, Spain, in the middle of 2025 and will be delivered to the RCAF in 2027.
Under the terms of the agreement, the A330 MRTTs will be outfitted with pipe and drogue and boom refuelling options, as well as cybersecurity solutions and countermeasures. All of them could be outfitted with the Airbus Medical Evacuation kit, which comprises 2 Intensive Care Units and additional stretchers.
As part of the modernisation of the air operational training infrastructure of the Canadian Armed Forces, the contract encompasses a comprehensive suite of training services, including the most advanced training devices, such as the Full Flight Simulator, to maintain crew readiness.
In April 2021, following an open procurement process, Airbus was designated as the sole qualified supplier for replacing the CC-150 tanker. With 76 orders from 15 customers and the ability to transport up to 300 personnel, the A330 MRTT has amassed a 90 per cent market share and more than 270,000 flight hours outside the United States. As a mature platform, the aircraft has been proven in combat in regions such as the Middle East and the Eastern Flank in Europe, where its interoperability, mission success, and availability rates stand out.
Airbus has been a prominent industrial player in Canada’s aerospace sector for almost four decades. The company employs over 4,000 Canadians and purchases approximately $2 billion from Canadian businesses annually.
