Originally Posted by
tdracer
Because the USAF specified a cargo aircraft that was capable of doing aerial refueling. Had the A330 been selected, it to would have had to be turned into a freighter - main deck cargo door, cargo handling equipment, etc. While the A330 can carry more underfloor cargo than the KC-46, it would still fall far short of the USAF requirements.
In other words, had Airbus proposed the standard MRTT, it would have been dismissed out of hand for failing to meet the basic, mandatory requirements.
The EADS/Northrop Grumman KC-45A was selected by the USAF as compliant to their then needs only to be torpedoed by the "Buy USA" brigade and now look at the mess. Very late and not yet 100% fit for purpose.