According to government and industry sources, Singapore has signed in 2013, a contract for the purchase of six A330 MRTT tanker. The aircraft supplied by Airbus Defence & Space, was preferred by the island state to its American and Israeli competitors. If confirmed, this good news will mark another commercial success for Airbus which to date has already delivered MRTTs to four countries.
For several years, Singapore had expressed the need to replace its four KC-135R Stratotanker. The A330 MRTT also faced competition from the Israeli IAI which proposed its Boeing 767 MMTT (Multi Mission Tanker Transport) solution which was notably used by Brazil with a lower price tag and on the American side, the KC-135R "renovated",
Extremely secretive about its arms purchases, Singapore has never communicated on the progress of the acquisition process. The new supply of the island-state will be mainly utilized the A330 MRTT to perform air refueling to RSAF combat aircraft particularly during overseas deployment participating in international exercises. Close partnerships between Australia and Singapore in the field of training could help tip the balance in favor of MRTT Airbus which has been delivered to the RAAF.
After the UK, Australia, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Singapore, the A330 MRTT could list India to its list of conquests. New Delhi has entered exclusive talks with Airbus for more than a year for the purchase of a batch of six A330 MRTT to beef up its fleet of tanker planes. Opportunities also exist in South Korea.
In France, the MRTT folder advance, with notification of contract expected by the end of August for the acquisition of the first devices that will come to replace the C-135 Air Force. A new technical and financial proposal should be submitted Airbus these days the DGA and the Air Force and will be the subject of tough negotiations in the coming months. (Air & Cosmos)