Finland acceded to Multi Role Tanker Transport capability programme

Finland has acceded to the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) capability programme. The accession gives Finland access to flight hours with Airbus A330 MRTT multirole aircraft and strengthens Finland’s contribution to the development of NATO’s shared capabilities in aerial refuelling, strategic airlift and medical evacuation.

Finland has acceded to the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) capability programme. The other participating nations are Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands,Norway and Sweden.  The programme is based on the concept of pooling and sharing in the framework of which the member states jointly own and operate the Airbus A330 MRTT multirole aircraft fleet.

Based on the widebody Airbus A330 airliner, the Airbus A330 MRTT is a multirole aircraft capable of aerial refuelling, strategic airlift and medical evacuation missions. In terms of aerial refuelling, this is a capability new to Finland, and by  joining the programme, Finland participates in the building and development of NATO’s shared capability.  Acceding to the programme allows Finland to be allocated MRTT aircraft flight hours that it can use for the above missions.

A total of 12 MRTT aircraft have been ordered through the programme.  These aircraft are owned by NATO and managed by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, NSPA. The fleet is operated by the Multinational MRTT Unit, MMU from the Eindhoven and Cologne air bases.  The unit reached its full operating capability, FOC in March 2026. Finland, too, will deploy personnel to the unit.