Saudi Arabia has become the second largest customer for Airbus Military A330-based multirole tanker transports with a decision to double its order for the refuelers.

EADS announced today that Saudi Arabia will buy three more of the aircraft. The deal comes on top of a commitment for three A330s the country signed last year. The first of the Saudi refuelers is to be delivered in 2011.

Saudi Arabia will use both hose-and-drogue pods and the refueling boom system Airbus developed.

The agreement means Saudi Arabia is now buying one more A330 tanker than the lead customer for the product, the Royal Australian Air Force. The RAAF is to accept the first of its five so called KC-30s in mid-2010.

The U.K. remains the largest customer for the A330 tanker, with a plan to field 14 of the aircraft under a fee-for-service arrangement with the AirTanker consortium. The first of those aircraft is now undergoing conversion work with a goal to have it enter service in 2011.

Meanwhile, EADS, teamed with Northrop Grumman, remains in the hunt for the U.S. Air Force KC-X program against Boeing. The Northrop Grumman/EADS team would offer the A330-based system against a Boeing offer of either 767 or 777 widebodies. Under the latest schedule, the Pentagon currently expects the draft request for proposal for that deal to be released in September, with a contract award not before mid-2010.

Photo: EADS