Airbus Unveils First A330 MRTT+, Set to Outpace Boeing's Troubled KC-46A

The first Airbus A330 MRTT+ has emerged from the assembly line in Toulouse, France. The plane is destined for the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) and will undergo military conversion at Airbus Defence and Space in Getafe, Spain.

The A330 MRTT+, which is based on the airframe of the A330-800, boasts superior performance compared to Boeing's KC-46A Pegasus. The new aircraft has revised wings and new wingtips that reduce fuel consumption by 8% and improve maximum takeoff weight up to 242 tonnes.

The RTAF ordered one A330 MRTT+ in September last year, with delivery scheduled for 2029. The plane will be fitted with an Airbus Medical Evacuation kit solution and a VVIP cabin configuration.

Alongside the order, Airbus has developed a stronger collaboration with Thai Aviation Industries, which has signed a memorandum of understanding for in-country maintenance support for the A330 MRTT+.