Belgium formalises second MRTT tanker buy to bring NATO MMU fleet to 10

With this new Belgian MOU, the NATO Multinational MRTT Unit will field 10 KC-30M tanker-transport aircraft by the time deliveries are complete in 2027. (Royal Netherlands Air Force)

Belgium has formalised the procurement of a second Airbus A330-200 Multirole Tanker Transport (MRTT) as its contribution to the NATO Multinational MRTT Unit (MMU).

Minister of Defence Ludivine Dedonder signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the additional aircraft on 24 March, bringing the Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF) to 10 aircraft once deliveries are complete in 2027.

“On this occasion, Minister Dedonder confirmed Belgium's investment of EUR265 million [USD285 million] in the project,” the Belgian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced.

Located at Eindhoven Air Base in the Netherlands, the 10 KC-30M (the NATO designation for the A330 MRTT) will be tasked to deliver 10,000 flight hours per year to the participating countries of Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, and Norway. With seven aircraftr delivered so far, the MMU declared initial operating capability the day prior to the Belgian announcement on 23 March. Full operating capability (FOC) is scheduled to coincide with the arrival of the ninth aircraft in 2024.

The final three KC-30M aircraft are to be delivered by the end of 2024, to coincide with the declaration of FOC. Six MRTTs will operate from Eindhoven Air Base, with a further four operating from the forward operating base at Cologne-Wahn Air Base (one of which will be permanently configured for the medical evacuation role).

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency has noted its intent to widen the capability to include new partners in the near future.