30 January 2019, Busan, South Korea – The Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, dubbed locally KC-330 Cygnus. Four such aircraft are on order.
The new-generation A330 MRTT extends the endurance and range of the RoKAF’s fighter aircraft, primarily the F-15K long-range strike fighter-bomber and provides the service with strategic transport capability for passengers and freight. In South Korean service the A330 MRTT will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 772B engines, be equipped with the Airbus Refuelling Boom System, and can be configured in a variety of layouts to carry passengers and freight or for medevac purposes.
South Korea becomes the seventh member of the worldwide family of A330 MRTT operators and is one of 12 nations to have ordered the aircraft. This latest delivery brings the total in-service fleet to 35 out of a total of 60 A330 MRTT ordered. Fernando Alonso, Executive Vice President, Airbus, said: “The A330 MRTT has clearly established itself as the world’s premier tanker and strategic transport aircraft, and has been widely praised by the current operators. It will be a critical asset of the ROKAF and leading air forces worldwide for many decades.” <>
