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A joint Spanish-Polish procurement of Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft has been given the green light by the Spanish government.
Madrid’s Council of Ministers approved spending of up to €5.4 billion ($6.3 billion) on an undisclosed number of the aircraft and associated logistical support during an Aug. 25 meeting.
The two nations have put together a framework agreement for the purchase of the aircraft that allows Poland to use Security Action for Europe (SAFE) loans provided by the European Union.
According to the readout from the Council of Ministers, the framework agreement will last seven years from the date of formalization.
In June the Polish government expressed interest in buying as many as four MRTTs to bolster its strategic airlift and give the country an organic aerial refueling capability.
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said at the time that the Polish air force needed tankers to be able to fully utilize the potential of its Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter fleet.
Poland was due to be a founding member of the NATO Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport Unit but withdrew at the last minute in 2016.
Spain is already an MRTT operator, flying a trio of modified former Iberia A330-200s. The Spanish aircraft are currently equipped only with a hose and drogue refueling system but can be adapted and fitted with a refueling boom later if required.
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