BELFAST — Airbus plans on opening a new A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) conversion center in Seville, Spain, before the end of 2027 to meet increased global demand for the aircraft, the company announced today.
The future site will augment the firm’s existing facility in Getafe, with a goal to boost its annual conversion of civil to military aircraft, from five to seven units, said the European giant in a statement. Other services for the new facility include maintenance, repair and overhaul and upgrade work for existing A330s.
“The choice of Seville is a strategic decision as it meets all the critical requirements” for aircraft conversions, noted the company statement, adding that the Spanish site “combines advanced technical knowledge with world-class infrastructure” courtesy of hosting A400M transport and C295 tactical transport final assembly lines.
The Seville hub will also receive an undisclosed investment from Airbus to upgrade “industrial assets” in its aircraft hangars.
Announcement of the conversion facility comes after Italy awarded the manufacturer on Tuesday a contract for the planned procurement of six A330 tankers, valued at €1.4 billion ($1.6 billion). The decision by Rome throws out an initial plan from 2022 to acquire Boeing Boeing-made KC-46 Pegasus tankers.
In a separate move, Airbus today disclosed a crewed-uncrewed teaming demonstration that took place in collaboration with the Spanish Navy.
The company said that as part of a flight trial “earlier this month,” in Rota, Spain, a simulated, high-speed boat chase took place during an intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) maritime mission. The operation saw two drones — a Flexrotor and Alpha 900 — track a target and broadcast live footage to a Spanish Navy H135 helicopter and Rayo offshore patrol vessel.
Elsewhere, at a company defense summit held in Manching, Germany today, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said that he is leaving it to the governments involved in the Germany, French and Spanish-led sixth generation fighter jet program to “reflect and decide what they want to do,” amid a bitter industrial dispute between the firm and French partner Dassault.
The troubled fighter jet effort “is at the core of the difficulties today, there are different ways forward,” he added.
Despite Germany and France signaling that they would meet to resolve the dispute in April, a breakthrough did not emerge. Additional time is required to sort the issue out, according to Politico.