Poland Eyes Airbus A330 MRTT Tankers with EU SAFE Funding Support

Poland has taken a significant step toward acquiring its first dedicated aerial refueling capability, with the government authorizing Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz to request financing through the European Union’s Strategic Airlift & Air-to-Air Refueling (SAFE) program. A government filing from late November 2025 reveals that tanker and transport aircraft rank among Warsaw’s priority projects within its €43.7 billion SAFE allocation.

The Polish defense ministry is reportedly considering a purchase of two to four Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft, with estimated costs reaching €1 billion. This capability has become increasingly critical as Poland expands its fighter inventory with F-35A and FA-50 aircraft while navigating sustained operational demands along NATO’s eastern flank.

General Ireneusz Nowak, head of the General Command of the Polish Armed Forces, emphasized the strategic importance of tanker support. “It is a scarce resource within NATO, and difficult to access,” Nowak stated. “Consequently, the role of countries that possess tanker aircraft in Central and Eastern Europe will certainly increase.” He further noted that aerial refueling capability could dramatically reduce the number of fighters and pilots required to maintain extended air patrols.

SAFE’s regulatory framework significantly narrows Poland’s procurement options. Under SAFE rules, no more than 35% of a procured system may originate outside the European Union—a restriction that effectively eliminates non-European alternatives like the Boeing KC-46A and makes the Airbus A330 MRTT the only viable candidate.

The A330 MRTT brings substantial operational flexibility beyond refueling. The aircraft can carry up to 45 tons of cargo or 267 passengers, enabling support for evacuation, medical evacuation, and strategic mobility missions. Airbus is developing an improved A330 MRTT+ variant, which offers up to 8% reduced fuel burn through aerodynamic refinements, new winglets, and Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines. The variant also increases maximum takeoff weight from 233 to 242 tons, providing greater fuel offload capacity and extended range.

The procurement timeline aligns favorably with production schedules, as SAFE’s financing horizon extends through 2030. In March 2025, Kosiniak-Kamysz met Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury in Warsaw to discuss cooperation on air-transport and refueling capabilities, though no procurement announcement followed. Airbus maintains established industrial presence in Poland, which could support training and sustained operations.

Poland’s pursuit of organic tanker capability marks a departure from previous arrangements. Warsaw founded NATO’s Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF) in 2014 but withdrew in 2015-2016 to pursue a national program called Karkonosze, which subsequently stalled. While Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Bejda floated MMF rejoining in February 2025, the SAFE-funded national acquisition route has now become the primary strategic direction.

Source ID: SRCE-2025-1764763246233-1105