An Australian KC-30A multirole tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft has been damaged in an in-flight incident with a Portuguese Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft.

The incident occurred during a training flight for Airbus Military staff.

The incident led to the detachment and partial loss of the refuelling boom from the MRTT, which fell into the sea.

The training was part of project AIR 5402, which will supply five MRTT aircraft to the Australian Defence Force.

The design, development and testing of the prototype aircraft will be carried out by Airbus Military at its facilities in Madrid, Spain.

Both aircraft returned safely to their home airfields following the incident and no Australian personnel were on board the MRTT at the time of the incident.