• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • COMTECH banner

BATTLESPACE Updates

   +44 (0)77689 54766
   

  • Home
  • Features
  • News Updates
  • Defence Engage
  • Company Directory
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media Pack 2023

U.S. Air Force SELECTS NORTHROP GRUMMAN

March 1, 2008 by

U.S. Air Force SELECTS NORTHROP GRUMMAN FOR TANKER REQUIREMENT

29 Feb 08. Northrop Grumman announced today that it has been selected by the U.S. Air Force to provide the KC-45A aerial refueling tanker for the KC-135 tanker replacement program. The Air Force’s KC-45A is based on the highly-successful A330 commercial airframe, produced by EADS.

Northrop Grumman is leading a world-class industry team to deliver a total air mobility solution for the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation tanker requirement. The KC-30 Tanker Aircraft is a derivative of the multi-role tanker that already has been selected for service in the air forces of Australia, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. In addition to being an exceptional aerial refueling platform, the KC-30 also offers full operational flexibility for cargo, passengers and aeromedical evacuation – providing a cost-effective response for the Department of Defense and American taxpayers.

Equipped with a centerline flying boom – along with two underwing hose and drogue pods, plus a fuselage hose and drogue refueling unit – the KC-30 can refuel multiple aircraft simultaneously, and is interoperable with U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied aircraft on the same mission without downtime for ground reconfiguration.

The KC-30 is derived from the A330 widebody twin-engine passenger jet, which has earned its reputation as the commercial airliner of choice for leading carriers worldwide. Characteristics that make the A330 a bestseller in its category also provide exceptional operational capabilities and superior performance for the KC-30 as a next-generation military tanker. These include: a large existing fuel capacity in the wings; an advanced digital cockpit with fly-by-wire controls for excellent handling qualities and low crew workload; a fuselage cross-section maximized for both passenger and cargo payloads and underfloor holds that are sized to accommodate NATO standard 463L pallets, bulk cargo and side-by-side LD-3 containers.

As a derivative of a modern commercial jetliner early in its operational prime, the KC-30’s advantages also include low life cycle costs, continued manufacturer upgrades and improvements, and a guaranteed supply of spare parts for decades to come.

To ensure the Air Force maintains the aerial refueling capability necessary to support America’s global warfighting needs, all possible options should be considered for modernizing its tanker fleet.

In four consecutive international competitions, the KC-30 family of advanced tankers been selected by NATO and allied nations as the optimal solution for meeting next-generation military tanker requirements.

Australia is acquiring five A330 MRTTs (Multi-Role Tanker Transports), the first of which has begun flight testing prior to its 2008 delivery to the Royal Australian Air Force, followed by a 2009 entry into operational service. The A330 MRTT also has been chosen by Saudi Arabia and the United Emirates, both of which have announced plans to acquire three aircraft each. As with Australia, the A330 MRTTs for these two countries will be equipped with the advanced fly-by-wire Aerial Refueling Boom (ARBS) and digital underwing hose & drogue refueling pods – the same configuration for Northrop Grumman’s KC-30 Tanker proposed to the U.S. Air Force.

The KC-30 industrial team is committed to delivering an American military aircraft program, with tanker assembly and production taking place in Mobile, Alabama, and 58 percent of the aircraft, subsystems and support being provided by hundreds of American partners and suppliers. The KC-30 program will result in the in-sourcing of thousands of U.S aerospace jobs. The KC-30 team will employ 25,000 American workers at 230 U.S. companies. It will be built by a world-class industrial team led by Northrop Grumman, and includes EADS North

Primary Sidebar

Advertisers

  • qioptiq.com
  • Exensor
  • TCI
  • Visit the Oxley website
  • Visit the Viasat website
  • Blighter
  • SPECTRA
  • Britbots logo
  • Faun Trackway
  • Systematic
  • CISION logo
  • ProTEK logo
  • businesswire logo
  • ProTEK logo
  • ssafa logo
  • AtkinsRealis logo
  • IEE
  • EXFOR logo
  • sibylline logo
  • Team Thunder logo
  • Commando Spirit - Blended Scoth Whisy
  • Comtech logo
  • GoExporting logo
  • ECHODYNE logo
  • Supercat logo
  • Galvion logo
  • Leonardo DRS logo
  • MTC logo
  • IDC logo
  • IDC logo
  • DVD2024 logo
Hilux Military Raceday Novemeber 2023 Chepstow

Contact Us

BATTLESPACE Publications
Old Charlock
Abthorpe Road
Silverstone
Towcester NN12 8TW

+44 (0)77689 54766

BATTLESPACE Technologies

An international defence electronics news service providing our readers with up to date developments in the defence electronics industry.

Recent News

  • PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

    September 29, 2023
    Read more
  • EXHIBITIONS AND CONFERENCES

    September 29, 2023
    Read more
  • MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE

    September 29, 2023
    Read more

Copyright BATTLESPACE Publications © 2002–2023.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If you continue to use the website, we'll assume you're ok with this.   Read More  Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT