Royal Saudi Air Force

The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) has been operating eight Boeing KE-3A tanker aircraft within the 18 Squadron at Prince Sultan Air Base since 1987.

To start replacing this fleet, the Saudi Ministry of Defence started a competition process in early 2005. The A330 MRTT was selected as preferred bidder in July 2006 and a first batch of three aircraft was ordered in December 2007. On 27 July 2009, the Saudi Ministry of Defence and Aviation (MODA) ordered three additional A330 MRTTs bringing its total order to six aircraft.

On 10 November 2009, the first RSAF A330-200 (MSN980) arrived in Spain, where it is being converted into an A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport).

The configuration is the following:
• Engines: General Electric CF6-80
• Transport:
   - Passengers: 266 seats in a two-class configuration (30+236)
   - Permanent lower deck capacity: 8 x 463-L NATO military pallets
• AAR Equipment:
   - One ARBS
   - Two Cobham 905E under-wing pods
   - One UARRSI receptacle