Welcome Home, Fam: RSAF Aircraft Returns With 218 Singaporeans From Riyadh
As tensions escalate in the Middle East, a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft was deployed on 9 Mar 2026 to Riyadh to help evacuate Singaporeans stranded in the region.
The RSAF A330 MRTT deployed for the evacuation mission has since returned to Singapore, landing at 6.02am this morning (11 Mar 2026) with 218 Singaporeans and their dependants on board. A second RSAF MRTT flight to Saudi Arabia is being planned to continue supporting the assisted departure of Singaporeans from the Middle East.
So, what exactly is this "saviour in the sky" and what is its role in our RSAF fleet?
When was the MRTT called into action?
In 2021, the United States government accepted then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s offer to send one of our new A330 MRTTs to assist in airlifting Afghanistan evacuees, many of whom worked with the US government and its allies and were fleeing the country - a situation that arose since Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, fell to the Taleban on 15 Aug 2021.
Afghanistan evacuees boarding the RSAF A330 MRTT from Qatar. | IMAGE: FACEBOOK/@NGENGHEN
On 27 Aug 2021, the A330 MRTT, which attained full operational capability in April that year, showed it was more than ready to provide humanitarian aid, and, with a 77-person crew, one landed in Qatar to airlift 149 Afghan evacuees to Germany.
Retirement of the RSAF’s KC-135R“It's an aircraft that provided a formidable leap in air refuelling capabilities.” The RSAF’s long-range jet tanker KC-135R steps down after two decades of operation. Take a look at some of their past missions here ✈️⛽
Posted by Ministry of Defence, Singapore (MINDEF) on Tuesday, 12 November 2019
Goodbye KC-135R, hello A330 MRTT
To stay on top of our defence capabilities, the keyword is "upgrade"! In February 2014, the RSAF signed for six new A330 MRTT aircraft - assigned to 112 Squadron - to replace the ageing Boeing KC-135R tankers, which were built in the early 1960s. The first MRTT arrived in Singapore on 14 August 2018 - with a special livery, no less!
Fun fact: If the A330 sounds and looks familiar, that's because it is based on the commercial Airbus A330 commercial airliner.
Each aircraft can carry 111 tonnes of fuel, 266 passengers, and 37 tonnes cargo at the same time. Compared to the KC-135R, that’s 20% more fuel, twice the cargo capacity, and more than five times the number of passengers.
Able to refuel, ready to rescue
One of the key roles of the A330 MRTT, which made its first public appearance at the RSAF's 50th anniversary parade in September 2018, is to refuel our F-15SG, F-16, and other RSAF MRTTs in mid-air, extending our operating footprint to reach all our overseas detachments without layovers. The KC-135R was unable to receive fuel from another tanker mid-air.
On top of air-to-air refuelling, the A330 MRTT can perform an airlift role simultaneously, thus enhancing the RSAF’s ability in international Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions as well as Peace Support Operations (PSO).
Indeed, the A330 MRTT is, quite literally, a life-saver. It can be configured to support aeromedical evacuation (AME) missions, so that the SAF can deploy medical forces overseas to ensure our soldiers have quality healthcare and medical support.
Previously, stretchers had to be attached directly to the KC-135’s floorboard. In contrast, the A330 MRTT is able to mount stretchers in the cabin itself, making them sturdier and more secure in the event of turbulence. Furthermore, medical equipment onboard the A330 MRTT is powered by its power supply - portable batteries had to be used in the KC-135.
RSAF's first net positive energy hangar in Changi Naval Base. | FACEBOOK/@ THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE AIRFORCE
A flying clinic that also saves the earth
In addition, the A330 MRTT aircraft can provide care for 12 patients, or up to three Intensive Care Unit-level patients. It can also transfer patients with infectious diseases through a Negative Pressure Individual Isolation System (NPIIS) that can be set up on board.
Another plus point: the A330 MRTT aircraft hangar is the SAF's first net positive energy building. The hangar is able to generate 30% more electricity than it consumes, with the additional power used to supplement other energy demands within Changi Air Base (East).
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