Airbus Defence and Space has signed contracts worth $1.2m with France’s Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) and Direction de la Maintenance Aéronautique (DMAé).

The two contracts will see Airbus provide capability enhancement and in-service support for the French A330 multi role tanker transport (MRTTs) fleet.

Jean-Brice Dumont, head of military air systems at Airbus Defence and Space, commented, “We thank the French Ministry of Armed Forces for its continued trust in the A330 MRTT and we are honoured to contribute to one of France’s most strategic capabilities through this programme.

“With this new capability of the aircraft, we are preparing the future by transforming the MRTT into an in-flight communications node, as the first building block of the multi role tanker transport of tomorrow, embedded in the future combat air system (FCAS).”

Two Airbus contracts

The Standard 2 contract will extend the capabilities of the MRTTs, including enhanced connectivity and self-protection capabilities.

The aircraft will be equipped with the MELISSA satcom station to ensure connection in all circumstances, including jammed environments and extreme weather conditions.

The second contract covers the in-service support of the ‘Phénix’ fleet for 10 years, plus two optional years, at the Istres Air Base in southern France. Airbus will be responsible for fleet modernisation, maintenance, logistics and technical support to ensure the aircraft’s operational availability. The contract includes support for aircraft deployed outside France.

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