A330 MRTT offered to USAF - Picture

[Razor61]

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6071528

States an Airbus A330 MRTT for the US Air Force.
I know EADS has offered the A330 MRTT for the US future tanker to replace the KC135 and KC10A but would the US seriously take on the Airbus' offer or even consider it?
Surely Airbus would need to give a licence for them to be built in the USA otherwise the US i should imagine wouldn't be interested in anything 'made' in Europe, especially such a large order which is obviously going to get Boeing miffed.

Either that or the bloke who took that photo has the wrong information?

[brickhistory]

Because of illegal/back door deals with Boeing and the then-serving acquisition chief, USAF was forced by Congress, led by Sen McCain, to take another run at the KC-X program. He also had a case of the red a** with the Air Force with their leasing the tankers over buying them.

So, to answer your question, yes, USAF will consider the Airbus entry (or explain red-faced why to Sen McCain in very public, embarrassing testimony), but I would be completely surprised if it was a 'real' contender.

The Senators/Congressmen from Boeing (er, Washington) will no doubt make the needed deals to ensure Renton gets the contract (eventually).

Just my opinion.......

[BEagle]

See http://www.northropgrumman.com/kc30/

The old Boeing 767 is still being offered as well; hardly surprising, given that Boeing themselves stated that its replacement, the 787 'is the wrong configuration' for a tanker. Whatever that meant. Foot....shotgun....

I doubt whether this programme will be won on capapbility alone - more likely by the loudest-mouthed senator squealing about lost jobs should the opposition win.

[FoxtrotAlpha18]

Airbus/EADS has built the KC-30A at their own expense in the hope of getting a bit of a head start on the test program in the lead up to USAF source selection in November (slipped from September). This a/c has not been funded by the USAF, hence the F-reg. Production aircraft will be built by EADS North America in Mobile, Alabama.

I'm not sure what will happen to the a/c should they lose out to the KC-767, although I suspect it will be used in ongoing sales campaigns and may possibly be lead for the UAE order.

[Algy]

Lots of very good analysis on this contest here (http://leeham.net/default.asp?Page=26). Well worth a read if you're interested in following the tale.

[GreenKnight121]

"Production aircraft will be built by EADS North America in Mobile, Alabama."



Actually, if the KC-30 wins the contract, they will be built by a partnership of EADS North America and Northrup-Grumman.

One proposal is for all airframes to be built to "green aircraft" standard (minimum flight-essential equipment only) in France, then flown to Mobile for outfitting with all non-flight-essential systems.

Another is for a split-production, with some airframes to be built in France and some in the US.

[MarkD]

That would probably depend on production rate. If the USAF bowed to pressure and sought 30+ airframes a year as the representative from Washington State wants rather than the 10-15 envisaged at present, it might justify a US line - but then maybe the Spaniards would have to agree to move the whole MRTT programme there...

[herkman]

The RAAF is currently going through the acceptance phase of their first KC30A. Which I suspect that means that we are going to pay some of the acceptance costs.

We made a mistake in not having a heavy duty cargo floor, but also understand that will be incorporated latter.

Regards

Col Tigwell

[LowObservable]

Northrop Grumman and EADS will have an entirely fair shot at winning the program.

http://amyladybug.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/charlie_brown_lucy_football.jpg

[FoxtrotAlpha18]

The RAAF is currently going through the acceptance phase of their first KC30A. Which I suspect that means that we are going to pay some of the acceptance costs.

Not actually going through acceptance yet - this will occur once the boom has been tested and certified - EADS still owns the aircraft. Initially, you're correct about the up front costs, but we may be able to recoup some of those costs if the KC-30A gets up in the US through royalties.

We made a mistake in not having a heavy duty cargo floor, but also understand that will be incorporated latter.

Also correct, but the cargo floor wasn't an option when we signed up for the aircraft, and is still not yet available as a retro-fit. We will likely explore this option further one-at-a-time once the aircraft are bedded down, a la Kiwi 757s.

[wall-e]

Striving to get more information on the subj, this is what's on Wiki!

"The RAAF's five airframes will be equipped with both a probe and drogue and a refuelling boom. Australia was initially to procure four aircraft with an option to obtain a fifth, however the RAAF has since decided to go ahead with the procurement of the fifth aircraft to allow for two simultaneous deployments of two aircraft, with the fifth providing contingency cover. All of Australia's Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft will be operated by No. 33 Squadron RAAF based at RAAF Base Amberley from 2009 on [3]. The Australian aircraft are designated KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transports."

No. 33 Squadron RAAF - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._33_Squadron_RAAF)

Anybody out there in the real world can confirm if the RAAF KC30 is actually flying as AAR or just air transport!

[Jig Peter]

There's a couple of shots of the RAAF's and the RAF's A330 tanker-transports on the thread just down the list from this one ...
Verb sap ...

(as if you haven't found out already !)

:ok:

[wall-e]

Thanks Jig
yes i saw the pics and they both look nice, but I was more interested in their actual capabilities, AAR and transport wise! Thanks

[pr00ne]

wall-e,

Give them a chance, they have not even been delivered yet! They are still on manufacturers trials.

[CirrusF]

Here's a pic of a RAAF KC-30A refuelling from a French Armée de l'Air KC-135 - looks like south of Toulon.
http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp254/cirrusf/A330tanker_KC135.jpg

And here's a pic of one on trials with a Spanish F/A 18 -

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp254/cirrusf/A330-F-A18-02.jpg

[Modern Elmo]

One proposal is for all airframes to be built to "green aircraft" standard (minimum flight-essential equipment only) in France, then flown to Mobile for outfitting with all non-flight-essential systems.

Never happen. Forget it.