According to the documents, the agreement between the Italian government and Airbus was signed on 16 April 2026. The aircraft are intended to replace four KC-767 tankers currently operated by the Aeronautica Militare.
The decision to select the Airbus aircraft was formally taken on 16 December 2025. The contract is valued at about €1.39 billion, or nearly $1.6 billion.
The agreement covers not only the delivery of the aircraft but also a long-term logistics support package. The support period is expected to last about 10 years and includes maintenance, spare parts and operational support after the aircraft enter service.
The A330 MRTT purchase follows earlier Italian efforts to modernise aerial refuelling capabilities. In 2022, the Italian Ministry of Defence considered acquiring two Boeing KC-46 Pegasus aircraft and upgrading the four existing KC-767A tankers to a similar standard.
That plan was later deemed technically unworkable despite both aircraft being based on the Boeing 767. The differences included airframe configuration and engines, with the KC-767 using GE CF6-80C2 engines and the KC-46A using PW4062 engines.
Italy then attempted to acquire six new KC-46 Pegasus tankers through a direct procurement procedure. At the time, this was considered a justified and readily available option, partly because of potential commonality with the aircraft already in Italian service.
Such commonality could have reduced costs linked to ground infrastructure changes and pilot training. However, the deal was not completed, and negotiations with Boeing were broken off in June 2024 without a clear public explanation.
Italy subsequently launched an open tender procedure for the new tanker fleet. Airbus emerged as the only bidder able to meet the technical requirements.
The latest agreement indicates that Italy has now secured terms it considers acceptable for the renewal of its strategic air refuelling capability. The A330 MRTT acquisition will provide the Italian Air Force with a larger fleet and a long-term support framework for future operations.
