Breaking news
Belgian Defense Ministry intends to buy 3 Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft.
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World
Aviation Defense & Security News - Belgium |
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| Belgian Defense Ministry intends to buy 3 Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft | |||
According
to Belgian newspapers, Belgium's Ministry of Defense intends to purchase
up to three Airbus A330 Multirole Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, one
for 2025 and two for 2030. This announcement was made following the strategic
plan being tested by Belgian Defence Minister Steven Vandeput and country's
government partners. The cost of these aircraft is approximately €
280 million each, or € 840 million in total ($906 mn). |
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 Airbus Defence and Space A330 Multirole Tanker Transport aircraft |
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This purchase would be consistent with the proposed military cooperation
announced by the European Defense Agency, whose objective is to provide
the European Union with an in-flight refueling capability.
The Belgian Defense Ministry is also thinking to purchase kits to equip the A400M transport aircraft. The total bill would reach 1 billion euros ($1.78 bn). If Belgium chooses the A400M option, this could eliminate Lockheed Martin's F-35A from the tender for Belgian F-16s fleet replacement, because the Joint Strike Fighter F35A variant can only be refuelled with an Aerial Refuelling Boom System. Belgium ordered 7 Airbus A400M airlifter, with first deliveries expected for 2018. The A330 MRTT is able to perform aerial refuelling, passenger and/or freight transport and medical evacuation in the same sortie without the need of reconfiguration, providing unique versatility in a wide range of varied missions worldwide. Able to carry up to 111 tonnes / 245,000 lb of fuel in its wings, the basic fuel capacity of the successful A330-200 airliner, from which it is derived, enables the A330 MRTT to excel in Air-to-Air Refuelling missions and refuel any kind of receiver, without the need for any additional fuel tank, hereby avoiding any reduction in its ability to carry passengers or cargo. |
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