Tanker contract decision announcedBy Kent Miller, Gayle S. Putrich and Pierre Tran - Staff writers
Posted : Friday Feb 29, 2008 19:35:31 EST
After months of deliberations — and more than one delay — the Air Force has finally decided who will build the service’s new refueling tankers.
Northrop Grumman and European partner EADS beat out presumptive favorite Boeing for the Air Force’s $35-40 billion, 179-plane tanker deal, Air Force officials said. The bigger size of the plane was the crucial factor, they said. It represents the first of three deals that could eventually be worth as much as $100 billion over 30 years to replace almost 600 tankers.
The modified Airbus A330 aerial refueling tanker “gives us more,” said Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne. “More fuel to offload, more cargo, more passengers, more availability, more flexibility, more dependability and more ability to move patients.”
The aircraft, which the Air Force has designated the KC-45A, will provide much greater refueling capabilities than the 50- to 60-year-old KC-135s it will replace. For example, it will be able to refuel two aircraft at the same time, including Air Force and Navy planes, which have different systems for receiving the fuel. Currently, KC-135s must be set up to service one or the other before each flight.
Also important, Air Force officials said, are the plane’s defensive systems, which will allow it to get closer to the fight and offload as much fuel as possible.
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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/airforce_tanker_contract_022908w/uhc comment: If they build 179 of these, they only cost $195,530,726 a pop --> http://frontierindia.net/us-airforce-selects-kc-45a-tankers