Five A330 MRTT have been purchased by the Royal Australian Air Force from Airbus/EADS to replace Australia’s Boeing 707 tanker transport. Designated KC-30B, the standard A330-200 commercial aircraft will be built at the Airbus manufacturing centre at Toulouse. The aircraft are to be transferred to the Australian Conversion Centre located at Qantas Hangar 1 at Brisbane Airport for conversion to the tanker transport variant.

Major airframe and wing strengthening modifications will be undertaken to enable the installation of the in-flight refueling capabilities. In addition, military avionics, and military communications suites will be installed. The passenger cabin and the cargo compartment will also be modified to suit military operations.

Aviation Labour Group is looking to place Aircraft Maintenance Engineers – Avionics, Mechanical and Structures into Qantas Hangar 1 for this project.