Italy was deciding between Boeing and Airbus for refueling aircraft upgrades. Its choice says a lot about where Europe stands

Italy will buy six Airbus A330 MRTT tankers for €1.4 billion, plus 10 years of logistics support, to replace its Boeing KC-767 fleet.

Rome dropped a planned purchase of Boeing KC-46 Pegasus aircraft after delays, cost concerns, and technical issues.

The move aligns Italy with a platform already used by several European partners, improving interoperability for aerial refueling.

It also reduces dependence on U.S. suppliers in a critical long-range military capability.

The decision supports a more integrated European defense posture within NATO.