France and Saudi Arabia have reached agreement on the sale to the Saudi airforce of three Airbus A330-MRTT military refuelling planes, the French defence ministry announced Monday.

A ministry statement said the deal was signed last week between French Defence Minister Herve Morin and his Saudi counterpart, Crown Prince Sultan bin Adulazziz.

The aircraft will be assembled by Airbus, a unit of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, in the southern French city of Toulouse before being adapted for military use by Airbus Military and Saudi companies, the statement said.

An initial contract covering three aircraft of the same type was signed in late 2007.

The delivery of the first of the six planes is scheduled for 2011, according to EADS.