It entered service on 6th May 2016, the then Prime Minister David Cameron made his first flight on it to attend the 2016 Warsaw summit. South Korea received its first A330 MRTT in January 2019, and its second A330 MRTT in March 2019.In November 2011, France expressed interest in acquiring 14 A330 MRTTs to replace its KC-135 tankers, A340 and A310 transports; one year later, it was announced that 14 would be ordered in 2013. The aircraft, a single-engine jet that could provide images day or night over Soviet territory, was labeled U-2 (U=utility) and given the name “Dragon Lady”.

This system permits the boom to be retracted, even in the event of a primary boom retraction system failure. The first UAE A330 MRTT was delivered on 6th February 2013. On 15th December 2015, France ordered eight A330 MRTTs, constituting the second tranche of a multi-year contract for 12 A330 MRTTs, worth €3 billion ($3.3 billion), signed by the French Ministry of Defence in November 2014. The main deck cargo configuration allows carriage of standard commercial containers and pallets, military, ISO and NATO pallets (including seats) and containers, and military equipment and other large items which are loaded through a cargo door. In 2013, the Netherlands expressed interest in the A330 MRTT to replace its two KDC-10 aircraft; a study was launched on standardising European AAR capability in cooperation with other MFF members.In December 2014, following a request for information, the bulk of the MFF member states entered negotiations with Airbus Defence and Space (ADS) to procure a A330 MRTT fleet, what was decided to be owned by NATO while OCCAR and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency would support the procurement process. Australia was the launch customer for the A330 MRTT.Designated as KC-30A, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) A330 MRTTs are equipped with both an Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) and two Cobham 905E under-wing refuelling pods. ui_manufacturer=Airbus ui_typerole=Commercial Airliner ui_createdby=Tom ui_type=A330-MRTT Voyager ui_variation=Royal Air Force Description="Royal Air Force Airbus A330 MRTT Voyager Air Tanker.

The cargo hold has been modified to be able to transport up to 8 military pallets in addition to civilian Unit Load Device (ULD).An optional crew rest compartment (CRC), located in the forward cabin can be installed for a spare crew to increase time available for a mission. Airbus A330 Voyager KC2 (A330-243MRTT) Generic Type. Fitting a boom would add flexibility to the RAF Voyager fleet, not only allowing operation with those types in the RAF not fitted for probe and drogue but for other air forces that operate boom refueled aircraft.An Airbus A330 Voyager aircraft broke the record for the fastest crossing between the United Kingdom and the Falkland Islands, completing the 12,657 kilometres (6,834 nmi) journey in just 15 hours and nine minutes on 2nd June 2020.In 2007, the United Arab Emirates announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus to purchase three A330 MRTT. Initial deliveries were expected in 2018, with further handovers of one or two per year until 2025.In September 2018, the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) announced plans to speed up delivery of the A330 MRTT Phénix, as it is known in French service, by two years, planning for the last of 12 aircraft to be delivered in 2023 rather than 2025. Having considered joining the initiative for some time, the Czech Republic joined as the sixth member during October 2019.Out of the total of 8 aircraft currently on order, 5 will be based at Eindhoven AirBase (MOB) and 3 at Koln-Bonn Airbase (FOB). The 2016 Defence White Paper noted a possible rise in the fleet’s size to nine to support new RAAF aircraft like the P-8A Poseidon.On 22nd September 2014, the RAAF deployed an Air Task Group, including F/A-18F Super Hornets, a KC-30A and an E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft, to Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, as part of a coalition to combat Islamic State forces in Iraq.

All Voyagers are powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Trent 772B-60 engines.By May 2014, nine aircraft had been delivered, completing the “core fleet”. It was first delivered to Australia on 1st June 2011. In 2016, it was decided to add a “modest” VIP fitout, including seating, meeting spaces and communication facilities, to a single KC-30, which remains primarily used as a tanker.