Airbus A330 MRTT for Algeria and possibly Egypt?

[Frogman]

Algerian news paper Alkhabar reports:

الجزائر ترغب في شراء ما بين 4 إلى 6 طائرات “أيرباص” عسكرية

قال رفائيل تنتور، رئيس الطائرات الخفيفة والمتوسطة بالشركة العسكرية “أيرباص”، إن الجزائر “مهتمة كثيرا باقتناء طائرات أيرباص العسكرية “330 أ« للنقل بالصهاريج ومتعددة الأدوار. وذكر المتحدث أنه بناءً على طلب من سلاح الجو للجيش الجزائري، أرسلت “أيرباص” طائرة تابعة لسلاح الجو الملكي إلى الجزائر، في بداية ماي لـ«التقييم”، وذلك على مستوى مطار بوفاريك العسكري. وكشف تنتور، لموقع “واب ديفونس”، أن الطائرة أجرت اختبارات التزود بالوقود في الجو، مع طائرة مقاتلة “سوخوي سو 30” للقوات الجوية الجزائرية. وحسب المصدر نفسه، فإن القوات الجوية الجزائرية تسعى لشراء ما بين 4 إلى 6 طائرات “أيرباص” متعددة الاستعمال، من أجل تعويض حظيرة الطائرات الحالية من نوع “ليوشين ايل 78” ناقلة ميداس، مبديا تفاؤله بأن “أيرباص” العسكرية سيكون لها شريك في الجزائر بحلول نهاية هذا العام. كما أعلن عن اهتمام عدة دول أخرى بالطائرات نفسها، على غرار جنوب إفريقيا ومصر.

http://www.elkhabar.com/ar/politique/338429.html

Defence web reports:

The Algerian Air Force is looking to buy between four and six Airbus Military A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transports (MRTTs), Airbus has confirmed.

Rafael Tentor, head of light and medium aircraft at Airbus Military, told defenceWeb that Algeria was “very much interested” in the MRTT. Following a request from the Algerian Air Force, Airbus sent a Royal Air Force MRTT to the North African country at the beginning of May for evaluation.

This was seen at the Algerian Air Force’s main transport base of Boufarik near the capital Algiers. The aircraft that landed featured two refuelling pods mounted on the wingtips.

Tentor told defenceWeb that the MRTT conducted aerial refuelling tests with the Air Force’s Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets

He said that the Algerian Air Force is seeking to buy between four and six MRTTs to replace its existing fleet of Ilyushin Il-78 Midas tankers. Tentor was optimistic that Airbus Military would have an Algerian campaign by the end of this year.

Other African nations that may be interested in MRTTs are Egypt and South Africa, according to Tentor. South Africa could use the MRTT for externally deploying its fighters, and as the aircraft can be configured for VIP duties, it could also fulfil the government’s current requirement for a new VIP transport.

Funding has been made available for a VIP jet purchase this financial year. However, Airbus has not offered the MRTT to South Africa yet, according to the company, but is talking to the government about its C295 light transport.

The A330 MRTT is based on the commercial A330-200 passenger jet and is able to carry 111 tonnes of fuel in its wings, leaving the fuselage free for other payloads. It can be used as a pure transport aircraft able to carry up to 300 troops, or can carry 45 tonnes of cargo. The MRTT can also be converted to accommodate up to 130 stretchers for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions.


The MRTT has been ordered by the United Kingdom (14), Australia (5), United Arab Emirates (3) and Saudi Arabia (6). The MRTT has also been selected by India and is the preferred choice of the French Air Force. India is expected to sign a deal shortly.

The MRTT has experienced two refuelling boom failures in flight, something Airbus said was due to operator error. The company said that modifications have been made to ensure no accidents occur again.


Guy Martin is attending Airbus Military’s annual Trade Media Briefing at the company’s invitation.

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30665:algeria-seeking-four-to-six-a330-mrtts&catid=35:Aerospace&Itemid=107

Aviation week also reports:

LONDON — The Algerian air force (AAF) has been conducting trials with the Airbus Military A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft.

Demonstrations of the aircraft, using an airframe that is destined for the U.K. Royal Air Force, are understood to have taken place earlier this month at Boufarik airbase, the AAF’s main transport airfield near Algiers.

Airbus Military referred queries about the aircraft to the Algerian defense ministry. However, images published on Algerian websites have confirmed the aircraft’s presence at the base as part of a demonstration.

The display at Boufarik comes just weeks after Boeing demonstrated its C-17 Globemaster to the air force as a possible replacement for Algeria’s aging Russian-built Ilyushin Il-76. It is likely that should any sale of the A330 MRTT come to fruition, the aircraft will replace the tanker version of the Il-76, the Il-78 Midas, which Algeria also has in its inventory.

Algeria’s secretive military is in the throes of a major modernization and is understood to be looking toward more Western equipment as it replaces fleets of Russian-built types.

Algerian Air Force Performs Trials With A330 MRTT

So what do you guys think?

 

[Frogman]

Singapore Airshow: 'First blood' to Airbus in tanker sales war with Boeing - IHS Jane's 360

 

[Ceylal]

So what do you guys think?[/quote]
At least 3 will be acquired, along with 6 C17 Galaxy.
The Il76 will be all replaced by Russian Aircrafts.