RAAF A330 MRTT # 6 ?

[Turkeyslapper]

Came accross this link for flight Global.

Airbus Military offers Canberra a sixth A330 MRTT (http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-military-offers-canberra-a-sixth-a330-mrtt-369309/)

Essentially it discusses a possible 6th A330 MRTT for the RAAF. Likely, possible?

Turkey

[Stuff]

"The unsolicited offer" says it all really.

Airbus are in the business of selling aeroplanes but just because they offer one doesn't mean anyone is likely to buy it.

[Flyingblind]

Recent overseas experience highlights how you can never have enough booms in the air.

Take the offer and throw in two more vanilla's for VIP/pax-cargo duties.

[Squirrel 41]

Interesting that the Flight article states that the airframe involved is the one from the KC-X programme (which means that the Aussies are presumably being offered a great deal). To those who know, would this mean that this airframe has the bells and whistles that the the KC-X would've had - strengthened floor, cargo door UARRSI? Sounds like a good deal to snap up and send to Amberley.

Thanks,

S41

[FoxtrotAlpha18]

If you were the government, would you sling Airbus/QDS ~$250m to buy an aircraft the RAAF doesn't want just to keep 200 people gainfully employed for 12 months, or would you just offer a subsidy of ~$30m to keep the workforce intact until Airbus/QDS can bid on other work?

The mothballed KC-X frame is a green A330-200.

[TBM-Legend]

Why would the RAAF not want an extra airframe? It adds to the flexibility of the whole show....

Think ahead 15-20 years if we have ageing aircraft issues. More airframes mean fewer hours per ride and longer life for the fleet..

[FoxtrotAlpha18]

We're already maxxed to our manning limit, and Amberley's ramp space is maxxed out even before the 6th C-17 arrives...

It's a nice thought, but it's supplementary funding and it won't wash...

[herkman]

Ah, but sir you may have forgotten our political masters.

Hips Julia would rather ride in the big bird than a 737.

it would however give us some uplift capacity if in fact it comes with a freight floor and door.

We are short of cargo uplift capacity, particularly if we a operating in more than one zone.

As we have seen in recent years we do not have enough uplift capacity in either the air or sea exercises.

Whilst I am no lover of the Airbus product the aircraft seems nicely priced.

Correct me but was there not two of these aircraft built.

regards

Col

[TBM-Legend]

Plenty of room at Amberley for some more concrete. On a daily basis rarely will all aircraft be there anyway. You'll have one in deepish maintenance and another or two somewhere on the road.

[giblets]

As I understand it, the reason for the offer is that Singapore is looking to replace their KC-135's .
The KC-767 will be unavailable in the time period required, and the Spanish production line for the MRTT is similarly busy.

If Australia keep the production line open until the Singapore order comes online, by ordering the 6th MRTT, they will then get the further work on the Singaporean tankers, and possibly other regional orders (should they come along). So that would 200 people gainfully employed for several more years.

[500N]

Giblets

I am not saying having a 6th aircraft would not be good but would this be another example of defense buying decisions being based on how many people can be kept employed ?

If so, does the Gov't provide the extra $$$ or does it come out of an existing Defense budget which means something else has to be cut to make way for it.

It would be cheaper to pay them to do nothing for a few more years.

[FoxtrotAlpha18]

Giblets - India is due to place an order for ~10ish jets before Singapore (~7), as is France (~12).

But one jet will only keep the line open 12 months.

According to this article posted yesterday arvo, Future tanker work tied to C295 buy | Australian Aviation Magazine (http://australianaviation.com.au/2012/03/future-tanker-work-tied-to-c295-buy/), Airbus has linked the C295 buy and the sixth MRTT in order to guarantee future tanker work at BNE...but only if the ADF buys both. Otherwise, it appears all bets are off...

I wonder if they consulted QDS before making that guarantee???

TBM - you're right, there is plenty of room at AMB, but there will need to be some serious (AND I MEAN SERIOUS!) flood remediation work done first, and a new hangar built as well!

herkman - there are two green KC-X airframes in existance. One is still owned by the US Govt and resides, sans engines, at Toulouse. The other is in flyable storage at Madrid and is owned by Airbus, and is being shopped around.

[TBM-Legend]

F/A-18 - the original requirement was for 5 + 3 options. I think the low AU$ sank the options along with a few other capital requirements. All OK now in that department!

[FoxtrotAlpha18]

Sure, but with government wanting a surplus, and the RAAF fighting to get supplemental funding for Growlers, there's no money for it!