Royal Thai Air Force Orders First Airbus A330 MRTT+ to Boost Refueling and Transport Capabilities

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has placed an order for one Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport Plus (MRTT+), becoming the launch customer for Airbus’s next-generation aerial refueling and transport aircraft. Based on the fuel-efficient A330neo platform, the MRTT+ is the latest evolution of the combat-proven A330 MRTT and marks a major milestone for Thailand’s military aviation modernization.

The Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) is a European aerial refueling and military transport aircraft derived from the civilian Airbus A330. The latest MRTT+ variant updates the base airframe to the more fuel-efficient A330-800neo. As of 30 June 2025, 17 countries had placed firm orders for approximately 84 aircraft, with 65 delivered. A U.S. version of the A330 MRTT, the EADS/Northrop Grumman KC-45, was once selected by the U.S. Air Force for its aerial tanker replacement program but later cancelled. According to Airbus, the A330 MRTT now accounts for more than 90% of the air-to-air refueling aircraft market outside the United States.

According to Airbus, the A330 MRTT+ retains about 95% commonality with existing MRTTs but introduces several key enhancements. The aircraft will feature both hose-and-drogue and fly-by-wire refueling boom systems, allowing it to service a wide variety of receiver aircraft. It will also be equipped with Airbus’s Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) kit solution, expanding its ability to carry out humanitarian and medical missions. In addition, the MRTT+ ordered by Thailand will include a VVIP cabin configuration, enabling it to transport high-ranking officials alongside troops or humanitarian aid when required.

Standard commercial A330-200s or A330-800neos are delivered from Airbus’s Final Assembly Line in Toulouse, France to the Airbus Military Conversion (MRTT) Centre in Getafe, Spain for fitting of refuelling systems and military avionics. The RTAF’s MRTT+ will undergo military conversion at Airbus’s dedicated A330 MRTT Centre, where its advanced systems and cabin layout will be installed. Delivery is expected later this decade, positioning Thailand as one of the few regional powers with a dedicated, next-generation tanker transport capability.

Airbus says the MRTT+ offers improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and a higher maximum takeoff weight compared with previous variants, making it a more flexible and cost-effective platform for air-to-air refueling and long-range transport. By choosing the MRTT+, Thailand will be able to extend the operational range of its fighter fleet, sustain patrols and deployments over greater distances, and respond more effectively to humanitarian crises across the region.

The order underscores Thailand’s broader push to modernize its armed forces and deepen its defense ties with international partners. With the MRTT+, the Royal Thai Air Force gains a powerful new asset that can perform multiple missions—refueling, troop transport, medical evacuation, and VIP travel—within a single airframe, enhancing both national security and regional stability.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, airbus.com