French DGA Notifies Airbus of the First Work on Standard 2 of the A330 MRTT Phoenix Aircraft

The French Direct General Armaments (DGA) has commenced equipping the Airbus A330 MRTT fleet with the MELISSA satellite communications antenna, allowing access to the SYRACUSE IV military constellation.

The A330 MRTT Phoenix fleet will thus have a high-speed, sovereign and secure communications capacity, associated with increased means of transmission as part of the implementation of the air deterrent component.

A true communication node between C2 resources (command and control) and the entire aeronautical bubble that surrounds it, the A330 MRTT Phoenix will occupy a central place in the aeronautical connectivity system.

The first increment of standard 2 also includes the integration of a self-protection capability.

The development work will lead to the qualification on prototype of all of these functions, with a retrofit of the fleet which will be carried out in synergy with maintenance activities, through the 10-year support contract which was jointly notified.

The A330 MRTT Phoenix fleet is currently made up of twelve aircraft; it will reach fifteen aircraft before 2030, in accordance with the French Military Programming Law (LPM) 2024-2030.