This is from "Flight International"
FSTA delays may force UK to prolong VC10 operations
Continuing delays in signing a contract for the UK's Future Strategic Tanker
Aircraft (FSTA) fleet appear set to drive the Royal Air Force to extend
operations of its Vickers VC10s by a further four years until 2015.
An expression of interest is sought from BAE Systems by 17 January to extend
its current Project Javelin support deal for the RAF's 16-strong VC10 fleet,
which in mid-2006 marked 40 years of operational service. An invitation to
tender for a full availability-based deal will be released by the UK Defence
Logistics Organisation (DLO) late this month, with BAE to respond by 28
February.
A solicitation document for the so-called "Javelin Green" arrangement notes:
"The objective is to develop the most cost-effective way to meet the needs
of the fleet to extend the out-of-service date from 31 March 2011 to 31
March 2013, and provide further options to extend beyond this date to 2014
and 2015."
The RAF's replacement FSTA capability was to have entered service this month
under the project's original schedule, but the MoD and preferred bidder EADS
UK-led consortium AirTanker have been embroiled in slow-moving contract
negotiations since February 2005.
Expected to be delivered under a 27-year private finance initiative deal
worth up to £13.9 billion ($27.2 billion), the new system will comprise a
core fleet of nine Airbus A330-200 tanker-transports, plus a further five
held at short readiness. These will replace the RAF's 101 Sqn-operated VC10s
and 216 Sqn's nine Lockheed TriStars, six of which have air-to-air
refuelling equipment.
Worth between £100 million and £400 million, the new VC10 contract also
follows the planned evolution of the Javelin partnership, which involves
BAE, the DLO and the UK Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA). Two previous
deals, worth a combined £245 million, cover the provision of engineering
support at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and major maintenance services at
DARA's St Athan site in south Wales.
The new project phase will transition this work to a full aircraft
availability-based deal, and will also incorporate so-called depth
maintenance activities and support for in-flight refuelling equipment at
Brize Norton.
The DLO says the agreement will also address the impact of recent and future
reductions in the RAF's VC10 fleet size, and develop a disposal plan for the
aircraft.
--end----
"So, guys, you will have to share fuel from a French KC-135F operating today in the North Sea and in the South West"
"Why?"
"Because all nine of our A330s are in Cyprus, Middle East, the States and the Falklands."
"Well what about the other five?"
"Well they haven't been 'readied' yet"
Meanwhile enroute to AARA12 they fly over all the VC-10s and Tristars parked up beside the scrap man at St Athan.
Nine tankers to replace 25....with '5' 'maybe' ready aircraft.
