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Airbus A330 Voyager K2/K3 AirTanker

The MoD selected AirTanker, following an open competition, to provide the replacement air-to-air refuelling and air transport capability through the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) program. A Private Finance Initiative (PFI) solution was adopted, in which the private sector will provide not only replacement aircraft, but also a complete and secure long-term service.

AirTanker Limited are providing Voyager as part of a 27-year private finance initiative contract worth £10.5 billion. AirTanker provide a comprehensive service for the RAF to ensure the full operational availability of the fleet over a 27 year period. In all, the RAF will operate a fleet of 14 Voyagers by the second half of this decade to replace its existing fleets of TriStar and VC10 aerial refuelling aircraft.

Fourteen Voyager aircraft and a complete support package are being provided to the RAF under a Private Finance Initiative contract signed with the AirTanker consortium. In addition to the aircraft, training, maintenance and brand new purpose-built buildings at RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s air transport hub, will be provided as part of the initiative. On 5 September 2011 Cobham Aviation Services received the first of 12 Airbus Military A330-200 aircraft at its Bournemouth facility for conversion into 'Voyager', the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft for the Royal Air Force.

AirTanker provides the K Mk 2 (Airbus A330 variant) 'Voyager' aircraft as 2-point tankers, equipped with 2 FRL Mk32B 900E pods. A number of the aircraft in the fleet are also capable of being fitted as 3-point (K Mk 3) tankers. Very few internal changes were required to the A330-200 to modify it for the air-to-air refuelling role. In particular no additional fuel tanks were required. As Voyager shared the same wing as the four-engined A340, there was a pre-strengthened location available for mounting the wing Mk32B pods.

The full passenger and cargo capability can be used while Voyager is configured for AAR operations. The cabin remains fully configured and the cargo compartments are unobstructed. On a typical deployment across the Atlantic, a single aircraft would be able to refuel 4 Tornados and still carry 11,000lb (5000kg) of freight/passengers.

One novel aspect of the contract is the facility to lease the aircraft for civil operations. The considerable commercial demand for the aircraft makes it attractive to third-parties who would operate those aircraft from the fleet that are not immediately required for RAF use. This would deliver a major cost saving to the MoD and taxpayer and ensures that the considerable capability advantages of Voyager are affordable.

The first of the RAF's future strategic tanker aircraft (FSTA) arrived in the UK for the first time 18 April 2011. The UK's largest ever military aircraft touched down at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire. With a 60m wingspan, and measuring nearly 60m from nose to tail, Voyager, a dual role air-to-air tanker and transport aircraft based around the Airbus A330 airframe, will replace the long-serving VC-10 and Tristar fleet; with the first due in service by the end of the year. The new aircraft will bring a considerable capability boost, each able to carry 291 troops over 6,000 miles, and to refuel other aircraft, in flight, from a 100,000 litre reservoir - greater than that of two large petrol tankers.

British Prime Minister David Cameron and his senior ministers are to get their own airplane to use for official trips, the government said on 19 November 2015. The decision came as finance minister George Osborne prepared to set out a fresh round of spending cuts in a bid to eliminate the budget deficit.

"We have been looking at ways to make better use of the RAF fleet to transport senior ministers and consequently deliver savings for taxpayers," a government spokeswoman said, adding that an air-to-air refueling airplane would be refitted. "We have decided to adapt one of our existing Voyager aircraft so that, in addition to its primary air tanking role, it can transport ministers." Local media reported it would cost around 10 million pounds ($15.3 million) to refit the plane, which will also be available for use by the Royal family.

While the government is likely to face criticism for what may be seen as an extravagance at a time of widespread cuts, the spokeswoman said the dedicated plane would save around 775,000 pounds a year on ministerial travel compared to the existing system of regularly chartering flights. Previous plans for an American-style 'Air Force One' were dropped in 2008 by then Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who said they would be too costly. The long-haul private jet had been given the go-ahead by his predecessor Tony Blair, leading it to be dubbed 'Blair Force One' by the media.