Italy has agreed to acquire six Airbus A330 MRTT multi-role tanker transport aircraft in a deal worth €1.4 billion ($1.6 billion), ending a 15-year reliance on Boeing tanker planes.
The agreement, published on the European Union’s TED public procurement platform, also includes a decade of logistics support. The procurement notice indicated that the Airbus A330 MRTT was the sole aircraft considered during the bidding process.
This decision signals a major transition for the Italian Air Force, which currently operates four Boeing 767-based tanker aircraft introduced into service beginning in 2011.
Rome had initially announced plans in 2021 to modernize its B-767 tanker fleet and add two more aircraft. However, in 2022, Italy revised its strategy and opted to pursue six new Boeing KC-46 tankers instead. By 2024, the government suspended the KC-46 acquisition program and began evaluating Airbus alternatives.
Italian officials later explained that the previously planned €1.1 billion KC-46 purchase was paused because of “changed and unforeseen needs.” Reports at the time suggested concerns over rising costs and delivery timelines contributed to the decision to halt the Boeing order.
The move toward Airbus comes as several European nations seek stronger defense interoperability within the region and reassess dependence on U.S.-made military equipment. President Donald Trump’s repeated criticism of the long-standing trans-Atlantic alliance has also added to European caution regarding American defense procurements.
The Airbus A330 MRTT is already operated by countries including France, Spain, and the United Kingdom, while several other European nations use the aircraft through NATO’s shared fleet program.
