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.

FMI: www.northropgrumman.com, www.eads.com, www.af.mil