Name: Airbus A310 A310 MRT/MRTT
Brand: Airbus

Airbus A310 A310 MRT/MRTT

Military conversion of the A310-300: multi-role transport (MRT) and, after the EADS rebuild, a tanker with air-to-air refuelling capability (MRTT).

Updated: August 25, 2026

Image pending

8,889 km

Range

History

From pure transport to tanker

Several air forces have operated the A310 as a pure transport under the A310-300 MRT (Multi-Role Transport) designation. EADS later converted part of that fleet to the MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) configuration, which adds air-to-air refuelling and turns a transport into a range multiplier for the operator's own fighters.

The documented conversions

At least six conversions have been completed: four for the German Luftwaffe and two for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Deliveries began in 2004. Three aircraft were converted at EADS EFW in Dresden, Germany, and the other three at Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg.

Military operators

The Royal Canadian Air Force designates its aircraft CC-150 Polaris; they came from an order originally placed by Wardair and delivered to Canadian Airlines. The other recorded military operator of the A310 is the Spanish Air and Space Force.

Key data

Aircraft type	Multi-role military transport and tanker derived from the A310-300C
Length	46.7 m
Wingspan	43.9 m
Height	15.9 m
Wing area	219 m²
MTOW	164,000 kg
Service ceiling	12,530 m
Range	8,889 km
Ferry range	13,000 km
Powerplant	2 × General Electric CF6-80C2A2
Thrust per engine	233 kN
Max weapons load	0 kg
Crew	2

Powerplant

2 × General Electric CF6-80C2A2 turbofans rated at 233.35 kN each for take-off (23,335 daN in the EASA type-certificate data sheet), the same engines already fitted to the airline A310-304s that were converted.

Armament

None. It carries no weapons: its job is troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation and, in the MRTT version, air-to-air refuelling through two hose-and-drogue pods under the wings.

Cargo capacity

Alternative passenger, cargo or medical layouts, including intensive-care stations and stretchers. The conversion starts from A310-300C airframes, which already come with a main-deck cargo door.

Range conditions

Operational range of 8,889 km and 13,000 km on a ferry flight without load. As a tanker it delivers up to 33 tonnes of fuel on a 3,000-nautical-mile mission.