Airbus Selected for European Airborne Refueler Jet Contract
Netherlands, Norway and Poland Are Jointly Buying the Planes to Save Money
LONDON— Airbus Group NV has been selected by three European countries to provide their future airborne refueling jet over a rival offering from Boeing Co.
The Netherlands, Norway and Poland are jointly purchasing the planes to be used collectively to save money, the European Defense Agency that brokered the partnership said in a statement on Friday. The aircraft are due to be operationally available from 2019, the Brussels-based agency said.
Airbus will provide an initial four refueling planes based on its A330 jetliner, the Dutch ministry of defense said in a statement. The eventual fleet size could grow.
“Participating nations would welcome other nations to join the initiative either before on actual procurement or subsequently,” the EDA said. The program will be run by the European arms cooperation agency, Occar.
Western airstrikes against Libya in 2011 highlighted a shortfall in European airborne tanker planes needed to extend the range of shorter range fighter jets. European militaries had to heavily rely on U.S. refueling planes.
Airbus said last month it won a contract for 12 of its A330-based tankers, also called MRTT, or multi-role tanker transport, because the plane can carry personnel or cargo as well, from the French government.
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Airbus leads Boeing in foreign orders for its tanker plane, having been selected by Australia, the U.K., United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, India and Qatar. Boeing has a larger market share by aircraft numbers for its 767-jetliner based KC-46 because of the size of U.S. Air Force purchase plans.