LUXEMBOURG, 28 September 2020 – The NATO Support and Procurement (NSPA) will order an additional aircraft for the Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF), further to Luxembourg's decision to increase its participation in the programme from 200 to 1,200 flight hours. The new aircraft will bring the MMF fleet to nine aircraft, providing the six participating nations with an enhanced availability to cover their requirement for air- to-air refuelling, strategic transport and medical evacuation.
This ninth aircraft is part of the three additional options originally included in the contract. The order will be placed by the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) to Airbus Defence and Space, on behalf of NSPA.
"This is the result of the trust and commitment that Luxembourg has placed in the MMF programme since the very beginning of the project. We are very grateful for this decision as it will offer even more operational flexibility to our partner nations," said Jan der Kinderen, NSPA MMF System Manager.
Two aircraft have already been delivered to the Operational Unit (MMU) and are now performing training missions. A third one will follow between the end of October and early November. The rest of the fleet will be delivered by the end of 2024.