Saudi Arabia picks EADS for three air tankers

PARIS, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has awarded a contract to buy three refuelling tanker planes to EADS (EAD.PA), the European aerospace group said on Thursday.

The Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft are adapted from A330 passsenger jets built by EADS subsidiary Airbus.

There was embarrassment last year when France prematurely announced a deal to sell two of the same planes to Saudi Arabia, then retracted the statement saying talks were continuing.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher)