MRTT tanker could be rent by Spain in a pending firm order

MRTT tanker : From 1987, following the acquisition of a fleet of F / A-18 Hornet (locally called C.15) and Mirage F1 (C.14), and to replace old DC-8, Spain decided to purchase three B707 aircraft with the US aircraft manufacturer Boeing to equip the Ejercito del Aire.

Three different devices were purchased because it was three specific versions. The first is a T-17, used for strategic transport missions, the second a TK-17 used as a MRTT tanker, and finally, the last was a TW-17, implemented within the framework of operations for the collection of signals intelligence.

Almost thirty years later, these planes of 47 Grupo Mixto, stationed at the Torrejón Air Base of Ardoz, near Madrid, accumulating flying hours and the weight of years, resulting in low availability of the remaining two devices, the carrier version mothership and an increase in maintenance costs.

 -Save money

The Ejercito del Aire, which has a lower budget than in recent years due to a difficult economic situation for the country, looking for savings where it can do. Therefore, during the summer of 2016, the last Spanish B707  tanker will be removed from the operational fleet of the Ejercito del Aire.

This removal from active service involves a significant loss of capacity for the Spanish Air Force and this places it in a critical situation. If the five KC-130H Hercules, a version for the refueling, can still ensure that mission squadrons equipped with hunters, the fact remains that a transport plane can not be replaced by itself a tanker since capacities are not at all comparable.

While a contract worth around 600 million euros with Airbus Defence & Space could be signed in autumn 2015 for three MRTT tanker through the release of a sum of 800 million euros, pushing the command fourteen A400M after 2024, the Spanish Ministry of Finance did not accept this solution, which led to the cancellation of the contract.

To overcome this loss of capacity and time that a firm order is placed, the Ejercito del Aire therefore plans to hire one or two MRTT tankers in cooperation with the British company Air Tanker.

 -Air Tanker

This airline is already working with the Royal Air Force since it owns fourteen A330 MRTT leased to the RAF, but remain under command of the British armed forces, while being implemented by the private company to ensure assignments refueling aircraft for the benefit of, or for strategic transport missions.

When some of these devices are not used for missions in favor of London, Air Tanker can then be used to hire the services of its MRTT tanker to other nations or civil companies, most recently with renting one of these devices to Thomas Cook. However, if the operational situation requires it, the Royal Air Force overrides these devices and it must have access to the entire fleet in a short period of time.

Also, if the A330 MRTT owned Air Tanker must ensure the maintenance of the fleet, training of pilots associated with these devices, and the availability of staff at any time, in order to conduct an operation.

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