Thu, Apr 01, 2010
"Me Too, Me Too," Regional Jet Makers Say
ANN April 1st Special Edition: With the
Northrop Grumman/EADS consortium still wavering on a bid in
the KC-X Tanker competition, two regional jet makers are
eyeing a run at Boeing for the multi-billion dollar contract.
Embraer Tanker File Photo
"We compete with Airbus and Boeing on every other level," said
Orlando José Ferreira Neto, Embraer Executive Vice
President, Defense Market. "We see this as another opportunity to
show that we're capable of building more than just regional jets.
We have a long history of providing military VIP transportation
aircraft around the world, there's no reason the U.S. Air Force
shouldn't consider an Embraer tanker"
The Embraer KC-195 tanker will be based on the 122-seat E195 AR,
which Embraer has stretched in computer modeling to accommodate the
tanker configuration. Maximum gross takeoff weight will be
increased to 150,000 pounds, increasing the payload by about 45,000
pounds. "With bigger engines, it works in the computer modeling,"
said Neto. "We're looking to go forward and respond to the
RFP."
For it's part, Bombardier says it is looking to propose an
entirely different "Regional Tanker" option to the Air Force.
"Rather than have enormous airplanes that can travel tens of
thousands of miles, we think given the nature of armed conflicts
today, a smaller regional tanker is the perfect solution," said Guy
C. Hachey, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier
Aerospace.
The Bombardier KC-300 tanker will be based on the 149 seat
CS300, which will be reinforced to handle the additional weight of
fuel being carried for refueling operations. Neither company has
revealed who will be completing the necessary tanker modifications,
but neither is feeling any real urgency. "We've watched the
protracted fight between Boeing and Northrop/EADS, and nobody seems
to be in any hurry to actually build an airplane," said Hachey. "We
think we've got plenty of time to complete certification on a
tanker."
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