The Republic of South Korea Air Force (RoKAF) has formally taken delivery of its first Airbus A330 MRTT multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft.
The aircraft, the first of four the RoKAF has on order, was delivered to South Korea last November for acceptance testing. Dubbed the KC-330 Cygnus in RoKAF service, the aircraft will be able to refuel South Korea’s fleet of F-15K and F-16 fighters, as well as forward-deployed US Air Force aircraft based in-country.
“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,” Airbus Executive Vice President Fernando Alonso said in a statement. “It will be a critical asset of the RoKAF and leading air forces worldwide for many decades.”
South Korea is the 7th operator of the A330 MRTT, and the RoKAF’s first aircraft is the 35th to be delivered out of a current order book for 63 aircraft.