Italy will acquire six Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft. The deal is valued at approximately €1.4 billion ($1.6 billion). This agreement includes ten years of comprehensive logistic support.
The new fleet replaces four Boeing 767-based tankers operated for the past 15 years. Italy initially planned to purchase Boeing KC-46 aircraft in 2022. Rome suspended those plans in 2024 due to concerns regarding cost and delivery timelines.
This shift highlights intensifying competition in the global military transport and aerial refueling market. Airbus’s success over Boeing may impact investor sentiment across aerospace and defense ETFs.