Poland and Spain Advance €5.4 Billion Joint Airbus A330 MRTT Acquisition

Poland and Spain are moving towards the joint acquisition of at least seven Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft in a programme valued at up to €5.4 billion.

The Spanish Council of Ministers approved the procurement framework on 25 August, clearing the way for negotiations on a final agreement. The programme reportedly covers the aircraft and seven years of logistics and support.

Polish Defence Minister W?adys?aw Kosiniak-Kamysz said Poland would receive four of the aircraft by 2030. The remaining aircraft are expected to be allocated to Spain, although the final distribution, delivery schedule and contract value have yet to be confirmed.

This is essential equipment for our Air Force, Kosiniak-Kamysz said, describing the acquisition as crucial to both Polish and NATO security.

The A330 MRTTs will provide Poland with its first national fleet of large aerial-refuelling aircraft. They will support the country’s Lockheed Martin F-16s and newly acquired F-35A fighters, extending their operational range and endurance while reducing reliance on allied tanker capacity.

Based on the commercial Airbus A330 widebody, the MRTT can carry 111 tonnes of fuel without requiring additional tanks. It can also perform strategic transport, cargo, medical-evacuation and troop-carrying missions. Depending on its configuration, the aircraft can transport up to 300 personnel or approximately 45 tonnes of cargo.

The acquisition is being pursued through the European Union’s Security Action for Europe programme. SAFE provides up to €150 billion in low-interest loans for joint defence procurement, with priority given to equipment manufactured substantially within Europe. Poland secured the programme’s largest national allocation, amounting to €43.7 billion.

Airbus assembles the A330 passenger aircraft in Toulouse before converting it into the MRTT configuration at its Spanish facilities. A second Spanish conversion centre is due to open in Seville at the end of 2027, supplementing the existing operation at Getafe as demand for the tanker increases.

Spain already has a separate national programme for three A330 MRTTs converted from former Iberia passenger aircraft. Its first completed tanker entered service with the Spanish Air and Space Force at Torrejón Air Base in April 2025.

Contrary to some reports, Spain is not currently a participant in NATO’s separate Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet. That programme operates NATO-owned A330 MRTTs shared by several European countries, including Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway. The proposed Spanish-Polish procurement would be a distinct bilateral initiative financed through the EU SAFE mechanism.

No firm Airbus order has yet been announced, and the programme will remain provisional until the participating governments conclude the final agreement.

Sources: Polish government comments reported by TVP World, Airbus A330 MRTT programme and NATO MMF overview.