French Air Force recieves new aerial refuelling tanker French Defence Minister Florence Parly visits the Istres airbase for the arrival of the Air Force's first new aerial refuelling tanker, an Airbus A330 Phenix, which will play an important part of the country's nuclear deterrent infrastructure. The KC-45, a variant of the A330 Phenix was also due to become part of the US Air Force's fleet but in 2011, the Pentagon decided to award the massive contract to supply aerial refuelling tankers to US aerospace giant Boeing, defeating its European rival EADS in a long and tortuous contest. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES