Poland's Air Force Boost
Spain Prioritizes Poland for Airbus Tankers to Support Its New F-35 Fleet
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Spain has agreed to give Poland its delivery slot for a third Airbus A330 MRTT aerial refueling tanker, allowing Warsaw to fast-track a capability it calls urgent for its F-35 fighter jets on NATO's eastern flank. Polish Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz met Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles in Madrid on June 23 to seal the arrangement, according to El País.
Robles made Spain's position clear: "An attack on Poland is an attack on Spain." She cited the "urgency" of Poland's request as the reason for stepping aside in Airbus's production queue. Spain will still receive its third tanker — just later than planned.
A Decade of Delays Finally Ends for Poland
Poland pulled out of NATO's shared tanker fleet — the Multinational MRTT Fleet — back in 2016 to pursue its own national solution. That plan stalled for years. The urgency became undeniable in September 2024, when a wave of Russian drones violated Polish airspace. F-16s had to fly 12-hour patrols but could only stay airborne 40 minutes before returning to base for fuel, according to Polskie Radio.
Poland is also receiving 32 F-35A stealth fighters. Without tankers, those jets have limited range and cannot "loiter" — circle and wait — over the eastern flank for long. Major General Ireneusz Nowak told Defence24 that organic tankers "halve the number of fighters and pilots required" for sustained air patrols. Tanker capacity, he said, is the most "scarce resource" in Central Europe right now.
Spain Cedes Its Slot, Poland Gets EU Money to Pay for It
Poland and Spain signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding on May 29, 2026, according to Defence Industry and Space. Under the deal, Poland aims to buy four A330 MRTTs in total — two paid for through EU loans and two from its national budget. The estimated cost is around €1 billion for all four aircraft.
The money comes from the EU's SAFE mechanism — Security Action for Europe — which gave Poland a first payment of €6.6 billion in low-interest loans. To qualify for the joint-purchase bonus under SAFE rules, Poland needed a partner that already operates the aircraft. Spain, which has two A330 MRTTs active at Torrejón Air Base, fit perfectly. Final technical details are expected at the NATO Summit in Ankara in early July, according to Contando Estrelas.
Airbus Expands in Spain to Meet Surging Demand
Airbus is the sole builder of the A330 MRTT, and its order book is filling fast. On May 20, 2026, Airbus announced a second conversion facility in Seville — adding to its existing plant in Getafe, near Madrid — to raise annual production from five to seven aircraft, according to Aviation Week. The Seville expansion is expected to create 200 direct jobs and 600 indirect jobs in the local aerospace sector.
Spain signed its own contract for three MRTTs in November 2021 for about €810 million. Its first entered service in April 2025; the second arrived in November 2025. Poland is eyeing the newer MRTT+ variant — built on the A330neo airframe — which burns 8% less fuel than the current model, according to Airbus Defence.
Poland Gains Autonomy, Spain Buys Time — and Goodwill
With its own tankers, Poland will no longer depend on NATO's shared pool, which it does not control. Warsaw expects the first aircraft to arrive by 2027–2028 — earlier than the original 2029–2030 estimate — if the slot swap goes through as planned, according to Defence24. That timing aligns with the F-35's full operational capability in Polish service.
Spain avoids a big political fight at home. Critics there worry about rapid defense spending increases. By sharing capability rather than just writing checks, Madrid satisfies NATO allies while buying time on its own procurement schedule. Analysts note this "slot swap" model could become a blueprint for other EU nations — such as Italy or Greece — looking to use SAFE funds for joint purchases, according to Contando Estrelas.
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