Airbus Military has confirmed the first two KC-30A (A330 MRTT) tankers for the RAAF won’t now be delivered until mid 2010, an overall delay of nearly 18 months.
Speaking to media on September 14, Airbus Military managing director Domingo Urena Raso said that aircraft number two, the first to be modified in Australia by Qantas Defence Services (QDS), would return to Europe next month and assist in the completion of the certification work on the type, and to participate in the first passing of fuel from the KC-30A’s new fly-by-wire boom.
The third aircraft which will be entering the modification process at QDS’s Brisbane facility soon is due to be completed and delivered straight to the RAAF in late 2010, while the fourth and fifth aircraft will follow in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
