Thu, Aug 02, 2007
Says Quick Assembly Key To Replacing Aging Fleet
Aero-News learned this week Northrop Grumman's first KC-30
Tanker aircraft completed initial airframe assembly in July, within
a timeframe NGC says exemplifies "an efficient and low-risk
approach for quickly replacing the US Air Force's KC-135 tanker
fleet."
The first developmental KC-30 aircraft, designated SDD-1,
entered final assembly a month earlier at the EADS commercial
aircraft center when technicians began fitting together large
subassemblies to create the commercial A330 airframe.
"If we're successful in our bid to provide the Air Force with
the more capable tanker -- we're ready immediately," said Paul
Meyer, Northrop Grumman vice president and general manager of the
KC-30 program. "Having the very first KC-30 already completing
airframe assembly clearly shows the advantage in leveraging a
current and efficient production line, which we feel offers a
competitive advantage. We're absolutely committed to meeting and
exceeding the Air Force's need to quickly replace its
mission-critical tanker aircraft."
Northrop Grumman's first KC-30 Tanker is the 871st airframe
built on the A330/A340 final assembly line. It is now in ground
testing as part of the assembly process and will be ready for
military modification in late November -- one month after the
currently projected contract award for the Air Force's KC-X program
to recapitalize its aging aerial tanker fleet.
The KC-30 is vying for that contract against Boeing's KC-767
aerial refueling platform. Northrop's offering is larger, and more
expensive, than the Boeing bird... but Northrop Grumman and EADS
feel the extra money would be well spent.
"Our tanker was selected by key US allies in the last three
head-to-head tanker competitions because it truly is the most
superior aerial refueling tanker in the world today," said John H.
Young Jr., CEO of EADS North America Tankers. "The Northrop Grumman
KC-30 Tanker being offered to the US Air Force for its next
generation tanker will be built on the same superb and modern
platform and provide the most advanced, operationally robust
refueling capability available."
To date, more than 1,110 A330/A340s have been sold, with
800-plus aircraft delivered to international operators and over 240
aircraft in the current backlog.
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