Italy Procures Six Airbus A330 Tankers in $1.6 Billion Deal
The Italian Ministry of Defense has finalized a contract with Airbus for the acquisition of six A330 multi-role tanker transport aircraft. This procurement, valued at approximately $1.6 billion, was announced through the European Union's public procurement platform, Tenders Electronic Daily. The contract, concluded on April 16, is set to last around ten years. Initially, Italy had planned to purchase Boeing-made KC-46 Pegasus tankers in 2022, but the procurement was halted in 2024 due to unforeseen needs, leading to a reassessment of options. The A330 tankers, which have a range of up to 8,700 nautical miles and can carry a maximum payload of 45 tonnes, will make Italy the 19th nation to operate this aircraft model. 
