Fri, Jul 09, 2010
Airbus Consortium Gets Bid In A Day Before Deadline
EADS North America submitted its proposal in the United States
Air Force KC-X aerial refueling tanker competition Thursday, a day
ahead of the July 9 deadline. The 8,800+ page proposal details the
unequalled capabilities of the EADS KC-45. “We’re proud
of our offering, which is the only one in this competition that is
flying and refueling the full array of receiver aircraft,”
said EADS North America Chairman Ralph Crosby. “The U.S. Air
Force will select the tanker that best meets the American
warfighters’ requirements. We are anxious to conclude the
acquisition process and are confident in the superior capabilities
of the KC-45.”
A330 MRTT Tanker File Photo
The KC-45, based on the commercially successful A330, will be
assembled in a new manufacturing facility to be built in Mobile,
Alabama, which will also produce Airbus commercial freighter
aircraft – more than doubling the aircraft production that
the tanker alone would bring. The KC-45 will also create and
support jobs across a supplier base of more than 200 American
companies.
Along with prime contractor EADS North America, the KC-45
industry supplier team includes many trusted providers of equipment
and services for America’s warfighters, including:
- EATON (actuators, valves and other systems)
- GE Aviation (engines and systems)
- Goodrich Corporation (varied aircraft systems)
- Hamilton Sundstrand (generators, turbines and related
systems)
- Honeywell (communications and navigation systems and other
aircraft components)
- Moog Inc. (flight control systems)
- Parker Aerospace (aerial refueling receptacles, hydraulic
system equipment, fluid conveyance products and fuel
components)
- Rockwell Collins (electronics)
- Triumph Aerostructures - Vought Aircraft Division (wing
structures)
A330 MRTT Tanker File Photo
The reliability and performance of the KC-45 and its refueling
systems has been validated by over 1,000 boom/hose-and-drogue
contacts and refuelings involving a wide range of aircraft,
including F-16 and F/A-18 fighters, E-3 AWACS and other A330
tankers. The KC-45 is the U.S. Air Force configuration of the
Airbus Military A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport, which has been
selected by four allied nations..
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