AirTanker and its Shareholders (EADS, Rolls-Royce, Thales UK, VT Group and Cobham) have recently signed a 27-year contract with the UK Ministry of Defence for the provision of an advanced Air Refueling and Air Transport capability for the Royal Air Force. The AirTanker consortium will be providing a fleet of 9 new tanker aircraft based on the Airbus A330-200 - powered by Rolls-Royce Trent engines - which will come into service from 2011, replacing the existing fleet of VC-10 and Tristar aircraft
