[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence photo] Sky Gas Station Aerial Refueling Aircraft

KC-330 Cygnus Refueling Training Unveiled

The Air Force unveiled the KC-330 Cygnus multi-purpose aerial refueling aircraft to the Ministry of National Defense press corps on the 11th. The KC-330 Cygnus was finally selected in June 2015, and four units were introduced between 2018 and 2019. Cygnus refers to the constellation Cygnus, the swan.

The KC-330 Cygnus is a civilian A330-200 passenger aircraft manufactured by Europe's Airbus, converted into an aerial refueling tanker. The aerial refueling fuel tanks are installed in the cargo hold beneath the fuselage, so passenger seats remain intact in the upper cabin. Airbus calls the A330-200 based aerial refueling tanker the A330 MRTT, but the name varies depending on the purchasing country. The UK calls it Voyager, and Australia refers to it as the KC-30A.

The KC-330 Cygnus was deployed in the Miracle operation, which involved repatriating the remains of fallen soldiers from the Korean War and evacuating Afghans. Our military plans to secure two additional aerial refueling aircraft through overseas procurement from 2024 to 2029, with a total project cost of 1.2 trillion won.

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