Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB, Brasília Juscelino Kubitschek International) has confirmed it has selected Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras (AD, São Paulo Viracopos), the only bidder, as the supplier of two A330-200s that will be converted into Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) variants for USD80.6 million.
The Brazilian MRTT aircraft will be formally known as KC-X3s. The conversion of the two passenger planes will be tendered separately, although it is widely expected to be performed by Airbus Defence and Space at Madrid Getafe airport.
The ch-aviation fleets module shows there are currently fifty-four A330-200(MRTT)s in service globally. The biggest operators are Royal Air Force with ten and Royal Australian Air Force with seven. The Azul jets will be the first large transport jets used by the Brazilian Air Force since the retirement of four KC-137s (converted B707-300Cs) in 2013.
The tender required that the aircraft be manufactured on or after January 1, 2014. Only one out of eight A330-200s currently operated by Azul is of the required age. The carrier did not respond to ch-aviation's query concerning the source of the aircraft.
