Faced with strong global demand, Airbus expands its Seville factory to convert civilian planes into military aircraft.

Airbus will open a conversion center for the A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport) at its San Pablo factory in Seville by the end of 2027. The objective: to meet the increasing demand for tanker aircraft, driven by the rise in global defense investments. This new center, in addition to the one Airbus has in its Getafe facilities near Madrid, will increase the annual number of conversions from five to seven, the company stated in a press release.

The new facility will also be used for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) as well as upgrading the A330 MRTT already in service.

“The choice of Seville is not coincidence, it is a strategic decision. The Andalusian capital meets all the critical requirements for the military conversion of an aircraft as complex as the A330,” said Francisco Javier Sánchez Segura, President of Airbus Spain.

This project will be implemented within the existing infrastructure to maximize operational capacity and “equip it with the necessary technology” for model conversions.

Airbus will invest in modernizing industrial facilities in hangars, implementing advanced processes and “an ambitious training program for highly skilled local talents”. According to its president, the choice of Seville is justified by the fact that it “combines advanced technical expertise with first-class infrastructure – thanks to the final assembly lines of the A400M and C295 as well as essential logistical and operational proximity with Getafe.”

The Airbus plant in Getafe will play the role of “strategic coordinator” and allow the two sites to work together to meet the strong market demand, driven by the increase in defense investments worldwide.

The A330 MRTT is a versatile tanker capable of carrying out inflight refueling missions, troop and freight transport, and aeromedical evacuation. It has received 91 orders from 19 countries and holds a market share of 90% outside the United States.

Airbus employs over 14,000 people in its Spanish factories, including 3,500 in the Andalusian sites of San Pablo and Tablada in Seville, and in Cadiz.

An article by Carmen Morales Puisegur (RTVE), originally published on Tuesday, May 20, 2026 at 9:40 am. Translated and edited by franceinfo by Alice Kouri.