Sweden's Minister of Defense, Pål Jonson, signed the agreement on Tuesday that makes Sweden the eighth member country in NATO's multinational fleet of air refueling and transport aircraft, Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF), writes the Ministry of Defense in a press release. At the same time, Denmark joins, which means the cooperation will expand to twelve Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft when two newly ordered units are delivered in 2028–2029.

MMF currently consists of Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, the Czech Republic, and Germany, which together operate ten converted aircraft for air refueling, troop and material transport, as well as medical evacuation. With Sweden's entry, the Armed Forces will have access to flight hours already in 2025; from 2026, the Swedish annual allocation will amount to 200 hours to support both national and allied air operations as well as the training of JAS pilots. Additional hours can be purchased to meet NATO's capability goals.

– By Sweden now joining the multinational MRTT cooperation, we strengthen our strategic mobility and endurance in the air, says Pål Jonson in the Ministry of Defense's press release.

The step follows the declaration of intent that the Nordic defense ministers signed in Brussels on June 5, which Försvarssektorn Nyheter reported on earlier in June. The aim is to deepen Nordic cooperation within the alliance's joint capabilities for air refueling and strategic transport.

In a parallel press release, Airbus confirms that the Nato Support and Procurement Agency has ordered the two additional A330 MRTT aircraft and welcomes Sweden and Denmark to the program.

– The expansion of the fleet underscores Europe's commitment to collective defense and strategic autonomy, says Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space.