Will Supply Engines If Plane Is Chosen For KC-X Contract

The players for a lucrative Air Force tanker bid are waiting. Boeing tell ANN the American planemaker has reached an agreement with Pratt & Whitney on price and terms under which it will supply engines for the KC-767 tanker. As a result, Pratt & Whitney becomes eligible to supply its PW4062 engines if Boeing is awarded the US Air Force KC-X contract later this year.

That's a formidable if. While many analysts believe the contract is Boeing's to lose against a team made up of Northrop Grumman and EADS, parent company of Boeing's European rival Airbus, the A330-derived KC-30 Multi-Role Tanker Transport has garnered a number of orders of late, from such customers at the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Boeing maintains the more narrowly-focused KC-767 is the best answer to the USAF's needs -- and that the PW4062 is the best answer for the KC-767.

"With more than 80 years of experience meeting the US Air Force's engine needs, it makes sense to use Pratt & Whitney as an engine provider for the next generation tanker," said Ron Marcotte, vice president and general manager of Boeing Global Mobility Systems. "This high-performance, extremely reliable engine will allow future tanker aircrews to operate out of short-runway airfields and provide them maximum fuel offload performance."

Boeing's agreement with Pratt & Whitney followed a best-value competition that focused on engine technical requirements like enhanced thrust and fuel efficiency, as well as logistics support, acquisition and total ownership cost, management and past performance factors. Pratt & Whitney's engines can be found on many commercial airplanes -- including Boeing's 747-400 and 767 -- and various military aircraft like the C-17, F-15 and KC-135.

"The Air Force needs the most capable, advanced engine to power its KC-X Tanker, and the PW4062 answers that critical requirement," said William Begert, vice president, international programs and business development, Pratt & Whitney. "We're proud to have reached agreement with Boeing and eager to help win this competition."

FMI: www.pw.utc.com, www.boeing.com