The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)’s A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft has attained full operational capability (FOC) status. This achievement was announced  in April by Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen during a ceremony held at Changi Air Base (East) to mark the milestone.

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The Full Operational Capability (FOC) is when a system is delivered to a user and they have the ability to fully employ and maintain it to meet an operational need. Pictured here, a RSAF A330 MRTT in a refuelling operation with a RSAF F-15SG fighter (Picture source: Airbus)

The MRTT was first delivered to the RSAF in 2018 and declared fully operational in a ceremony at Changi Air Base (East) on April 20.

"The MRTT's better endurance and its ability to do tanker-to-tanker refuelling - which the KC-135 could not - extends its operating footprint, and we're now able to reach all our overseas detachments without layovers," said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.

"For our fighter aircraft, the MRTT provides the capacity to reach faraway parts of the globe, and correspondingly, assurance that we would be able to recover our assets from anywhere in the world when the situation warrants. That's a real source of assurance."

“The attainment of FOC by 112 Squadron for the Airbus A330 MRTT obviously marks a significant milestone in the capabilities of the RSAF. The MRTT marks another step up in extending the range of RSAF’s fleet of planes.” he added.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force currently has six MRTTs. The first A330 MRTT arrived in Singapore on 14 August 2018.