The Saudi Ministry of Defence and Aviation (Moda) has reached an agreement with Airbus, a unit of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), on the sale of three Airbus A330 military refuelling planes to the Royal Saudi Air Force.

An initial contract covering three Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft was signed in late 2007. The delivery of the first of the six planes is scheduled for 2011, according to a EADS statement.

“We are grateful to the Royal Saudi Air Force for their renewed confidence in our products. The repeated selection from such a demanding customer confirms the superiority of Airbus Military in providing the best air-to-air refuelling solutions”, said Domingo Urena, CEO of Airbus Military.

“Airbus Military is definitively well ahead and leading with a really outstanding product that is already in production”, Urena added. The six aircraft will be configured with hose and drogue under-wing pods and the Airbus Military Air Refuelling Boom System (ARBS). The contract includes an in-service support package, he noted.

Saudi Arabia’s decision consolidates the A330 MRTT position as the benchmark in the multi role tanker transport aircraft market, said Urena.

Airbus Military is responsible for the design and production of the MRTTs, and hereby positioned as a key worldwide supplier in the field of tanking, mission and transport aircraft, he added.