Luxembourg - 19 November 2020, the third Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF) aircraft arrived at its Main Operating Base in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. This third aircraft is the first of the fleet to be converted into aeromedical evacuation (MEDEVAC) configuration.
Upon completion of the acceptance process, the ownership of the aircraft was transferred (through OCCAR) from Airbus Defence and Space to the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), who manages the fleet on behalf of the MMF nations.
This third aircraft is the first of the fleet to be converted into aeromedical evacuation (MEDEVAC) configuration. Conversion will be done in Cologne, Germany. The MMF MEDEVAC aircraft is an important link in the rescue chain for the medical evacuation of injured people over long distances. The MEDEVAC kit consists of up to six intensive care units (ICU), which are equipped according to the most modern standards of intensive care medicine. In addition to six intensive care patients, other 16 patients can be transported on stretchers.
The first and second aircraft were delivered in June and August 2020. The Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport Unit (MMU) is now operating the aircraft for training purposes and will gradually deploy on operational tasks in the next months. The delivery of the forth aircraft is planned for early next year. From that point on, a new A330 MRTT will be added to the fleet regularly, with the expected delivery of the last aircraft on order at the end of 2024.
The full fleet will consist of nine Multi-role tanker transport aircraft able to provide strategic transport, air-to-air refuelling and medical evacuation capabilities to its six participating nations (Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Norway).
The aircraft are owned by NATO and managed by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) with the support of the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) on the acquisition phase.