Article Posted on : - Jul 02, 2015

CANBERRA (BNS): The Australian Government will buy two additional KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

A contract worth AUD 408 million (US $314 million) has been signed with the Airbus Defence and Space for the two aircraft and associated conversion.

The two new KC-30As will be delivered in 2018 and provide a substantial increase to the air-to-air refuelling capacity of the RAAF, the Defence Ministry announced on July 1.

The new acquisition will increase the RAAF's KC-30A fleet to seven.

The KC-30A aircraft (Airbus A330 MRTT) is capable of refuelling F/A-18A/B Hornets, F/A-18F Super Hornets, E-7A Wedgetail, C-17A Globemasters and other KC-30A aircraft.

In the future it will refuel EA-18G Growler, P-8A Poseidon and the F-35A (Joint Strike Fighter) providing a force-multiplier so aircraft can remain on station longer, extending their range and persistence, the MoD statement said.