Nationwide Team to Provide Key Components For New Refueling Aircraft

Boeing said Wednesday that it has put a team in place that will provide key components for the U.S. Air Force's KC-46 Tanker. The Air Force selected Boeing on Feb. 24 to replace 179 Eisenhower-era KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft. "Delivering 18 combat-ready tankers to the U.S. Air Force in 78 months is our priority as a company, and it will take a talented, committed supplier team to help get that done," said Maureen Dougherty, Boeing KC-46 vice president and program manager. "We're fortunate to have a strong defense industry team of domain experts working side-by-side to provide a new generation of aerial refueling."

The KC-46 Tanker team will include more than 800 suppliers in more than 40 states and support approximately 50,000 total U.S. jobs. Major suppliers include:

• Cobham (Davenport, IA): Refueling systems, including wing aerial refueling pods and centerline drogue system.
• DRS Laurel Technologies Inc. (Johnstown, Pa): Aerial Refueling Operator Station (AROS).
• Eaton Aerospace: Electromechanical and cargo door actuation systems (Grand Rapids, MI); hydraulic and fuel distribution subcomponents (Jackson, MI)
• GE Aviation Systems (Grand Rapids, MI; Clearwater, FL): Mission control system.
• Goodrich: Interiors (CO); landing gear (Ontario, Canada).
• Honeywell: Auxiliary power unit (Phoenix); cabin pressure control system (Tucson, AZ), air data inertial navigation (Coon Rapids, MN); lighting (Urbana, OH).
• Moog Inc.: Electro-hydraulic servo valves, actuators, stabilize trim controls, leading edge slat actuator, inboard/outboard leading edge rotary actuators, autopilot actuators, elevator feel system (East Aurora, NY; Wolverhampton, UK); refueling boom actuators (Torrance, CA).
• Northrop Grumman (Rolling Meadows, IL): Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM).
• Parker Aerospace (Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Utah): Refueling components including the receptacle door actuator, aerial refueling interface control system, and wing refueling pod hydraulic power packs; primary flight controls and fuel equipment; pneumatic, fluid conveyance, and hydraulic equipment.
• Pratt & Whitney (Middletown, CT): Engines.
• Raytheon Company (El Segundo, CA): Digital radar warning receiver and digital anti-jam receiver GPS.
• Rockwell Collins (Cedar Rapids, IA): Integrated display system featuring 15.1-inch diagonal crystal displays built on proven technology from the commercial 787; tactical situational awareness system; remote vision system 3-D and 2-D technology for the boom operator; communications, navigation, surveillance, networking and flight control systems.
• Spirit: Forward fuselage section; strut; nacelle components to include inlet, fan cowl and core cowl; fixed fan duct (Wichita, KS); fixed leading edge (Prestwick, Scotland).
• Triumph Group Inc.: Horizontal stabilizer and aft body section, including pressure bulkhead; wing center section, doors, nacelles and other components including cowl doors, seal depressor panels, acoustic panels and aft wheel well bulkhead.
• Woodward Inc. (Skokie, IL): Several elements of the aerial refueling boom, including the sensor system, control unit, and telescopic and flight control sticks.

Based on the proven Boeing 767-200ER commercial aircraft, the KC-46 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW4062 engines and will be flown by three aircrew members (pilot, co-pilot, boom operator) with additional permanent seating for 12 aircrew. Boeing plans to build the KC-46 Tanker using a low-risk approach to manufacturing by a trained and experienced workforce at existing facilities in Everett, WA, and Wichita, KS.

FMI: www.boeing.com