June 2008, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) upheld a protest by Boeing on the award of the contract and the US Department of Defense reopened the bidding process six months later. In September 2009, the USAF began the first steps toward accepting new bids but by March 2010, Northrop Grumman announced that it would pull out of the bidding process. Despite Northrop Grumman’s withdrawal, EADS has decided to remain in the ongoing competition alone but it needed more time to look for potential US team partners. To complicate matters further, the USAF had previously announced that it would delay the proposal submission date for the KC-X tanker contract sixty days into July and then updated the RPF to November 12. The original RFP had called for a contract award date by the end of August but there is now uncertainty as to when the final award date will be.
EADS maintain that the A330 MRTT/ KC-45 is the only aircraft flying today that meets the requirements outlined
in the KC-X RFP. EADS North America will build and modify the KC-45, along with A330 commercial freighters, at an EADS North America/Airbus production facility to be constructed in Mobile, Alabama. At the heart of the KC-45 is the aircraft’s fly-by-wire ARBS which has a demonstrated fuel offload rate of 1,200 US gallons per minute – the only system which meets the USAF’s requirements without further modification. The system’s proven all-electric fly-by- wire technology ensures enhanced controllability and safety that greatly aids the boom operator and receiver aircraft’s pilot. The KC-45 also carries an all-digital hose and drogue system for probe-equipped aircraft. The under-wing refueling pods will have the capability to deliver up to 420 gallons of fuel per minute at refueling speeds from 180 to 325 knots. The KC-45 will also feature a fuselage refuelling unit which has been adopted by several other MRTT customers including the RAF.
Boeing’s KC-X contender, termed
as the NewGen tanker, is based on its KC-767 tanker transport, four of which have been ordered by both the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the Italian Air Force. Based on a new version of the 767-200 long-range freighter, Boeing’s NewGen tanker has a smaller footprint than its competitor, which it claims, will allow the USAF to deploy more tankers, to cover more refuelling orbits, and offload more fuel. The new tanker will have the latest flight deck technology, avionics, mission equipment, and engines. In addition to being able to refuel other aircraft with either a boom or a hose and drogue system, it will also be capable of carrying significant amounts of cargo, passengers, or patients. Boeing have not to date revealed details of their contender’s performance but with some much at stake, the story of USAF’s future flying tankers is far from over.
David Oliver Defence Journalis
The other KC-X contender is a variant of
Boeing’s KC-767 which has been sold to the air forces of Italy and Japan. (Boeing)
60 G3 DEFENCE
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