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RAAF A330 MRTT progress
EADS Completes Successfully 1st Flight Test phase A330 MRTT Aircraft
(Madrid, February 14, 2008) -- The first A330 MRTT prototype MSN747 has landed today at EADS MTAD facilities in Getafe, Madrid at 12:15h local time after completing Phase 1 of the flight testing that has been primarily devoted to civil certification. EADS MTAD has officially announced the conclusion of a key Australian A330 MRTT programme milestone. Flight Test Phase 1 has been conducted in just 3 months logging up a total of 63 flights and 202 flight hours. During this phase, the A330 MRTT has proven to be extremely reliable fulfilling the flight test programme in accordance to the flight test schedule. The A330 MRTT has behaved as expected, showing that the modifications introduced to the MRTT configuration (including refuelling pods and boom) had no significant effect on the aircraft's performance. The flight test programme has met all defined test objectives. The flight test campaign was oriented to analyze the behavior of the aircraft with regard to the following disciplines: anemometry & clinometry, handling qualities, buffet, flutter, loads, performance, flight controls (new tanker and receiver adapted control laws), new autopilot mode (bank angle) and the antenna re-location. The results of loads, performance and handling qualities measured during flight test have shown full consistency with the data calculated by design. Also, it has been verified that the aircraft is Buffet-free and Flutter-free in the whole flight envelope until maximum design speed (MD/VD) after the military modification. During this flight test phase, the full flight envelope has been validated and no limitations or restrictions have been found. In addition to the above disciplines involved in the civil certification, the following military development tests have also been performed: Hose deployment and stability, proximity flights in receiver mode (A310 Boom demo acting as tanker) and proximity flights in tanker mode (F18 acting as receiver). The flight control laws that have been successfully tested and will provide the aircraft superior handling qualities characteristics in the new roles of the aircraft as tanker and receiver. To enhance the capabilities of the aircraft an electronic tail bumper has also been incorporated to minimize the possibility of a tail-strike at take-off. The Flight Test Phase 1 has been conducted at Getafe and Toulouse depending on the requirements of the flight test program, involving EADS MTAD and Airbus Flight Test organizations. In addition, the RAAF crew has also participated in some of the flight test activities.Additionally, the Phase 1 Flight Test Programme has also included formal certification flights with the participation of the civil European Authority (EASA). The reliability of the modified A330 MRTT and its state-of-the-art flight test instrumentation has been outstanding: Not a single flight has been delayed or cancelled due to a technical failure. This is a good example of the excellent capabilities this aircraft will provide to the RAAF. Source : EADS |
Looks like things are on track :ok:
Good job. On that note, anyone know when 33sqn are making the journey up to Amberley? The first aircraft is suppose to arrive in Amberley not Richmond, yeh? |
Good to hear that at least one major DoD procurement is proceeding according to plan, thing is, we need more than originally bought.
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ahhhhh....the source is EADS........what did you expect them to say...........would be good to hear from the RAAF guys involved there, but I don't think that's going to happen.
I seriously doubt everything's on track. |
Good to hear that at least one major DoD procurement is proceeding according to plan ...and a press release from EADS saying all's going well does not constitute "seeing it". |
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33 Squadron move to Amberley
I understand that there is already a detachment in the new Amberley headquarters, to 'take possession' of the building and commence working on SOPs. More people will follow on 1 July this year, when the 'new' 33 Squadron officially commences operating from Amberley. Others will slowly fill up the unit strength over the next 1 to 2 years as training courses are run for the various trades and aircrew categories to meet scheduled aircraft deliveries.
Others will remain in Richmond to dispose of the aircraft, parts, hangar and HQ building. |
USAF Selects NGC to Provide the New KC-45A Aerial Refueling Tanker
USAF Selects NGC to Provide the New KC-45A Aerial Refueling Tanker
(Los Angeles, February 29, 2008) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announced today that it has been selected by the U.S. Air Force to provide the KC-45A aerial refueling tanker for the KC-135 tanker replacement program. The Air Force's KC-45A is based on the highly-successful A330 commercial airframe, produced by EADS. "We are excited to partner with the Air Force for their number one acquisition priority, the KC-45A Tanker," said Ronald D. Sugar, Northrop Grumman chairman and chief executive officer. "Northrop Grumman's vast expertise in aerospace design, development and systems integration will ensure our nation's warfighters receive the most capable and versatile tanker ever built. The Northrop Grumman KC-45A tanker will be a game changer." The initial KC-45A contract provides four System Design and Development aircraft and is valued at $1.5 billion. The first KC-45A airframe completed its first flight on Sept. 25, 2007 and will now begin military conversion to the tanker configuration. The KC-45A's Aerial Refueling Boom System is currently in flight test and has successfully performed numerous in-flight contacts with receiver aircraft. "Clearly the U.S. Air Force conducted a thorough and transparent competition in choosing their new tanker, which resulted in selection of the aircraft that best meets their current and future requirements," said Gary Ervin, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector. "By selecting the most capable and modern aircraft, the Air Force has embraced a system that provides a best-value solution to our armed forces and our nation." Source : Northrop Grumman Corporation EADS to Expand in US After Winning KC-30 Tanker Deal EADS to expand its U.S. industrial presence following selection of Northrop Grumman KC-30 Tanker - Northrop Grumman KC-30 Tanker aircraft selected by U.S. Air Force is based on A330 MRTT - EADS and Airbus have begun work on U.S. facilities to support tanker programme (Amsterdam, February 29, 2008) -- Selection of the Northrop Grumman KC-30 Tanker by the U.S. Air Force, a system based on EADS' A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport) and designated by the USAF as the KC-45A, will significantly increase EADS' industrial presence and commitment in the United States, as well as its role as a U.S.-based defence and homeland security provider. EADS North America is the partner to Northrop Grumman on the new tanker, with responsibility for assembling airframes and providing completed flight-qualified aircraft and refuelling sub-systems. The KC-45A Tanker is based on the EADS A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport). Its airframe is derived from the popular A330 jetliner produced by EADS' Airbus Division, of which more than 880 have been ordered worldwide in passenger and freighter configurations. The Military Transport Aircraft Division (MTAD) is responsible within the EADS Group for all military derivative programmes based on Airbus platforms, including tankers. This latest success in a series of competitions worldwide confirms the EADS-based military tanker as the best solution available on the market. Following its purchase by the Royal Australian Air Force, the MRTT solution has been officially ordered by the Royal Saudi Air Force and the UAE Air Force, as well as selected by the Royal Air Force of the UK. Selection of the KC-45A Tanker was announced today by the U.S. Air Force, culminating a multi-year evaluation. The programme award calls for 179 aircraft with an estimated contract value of US$ 40 billion. The initial KC-45A contract for Northrop Grumman covers four System Design and Development aircraft and is valued at US$ 1.5 billion. Louis Gallois, CEO of EADS, stated: "We have committed our energies to this important U.S. Air Force programme and to our team mate Northrop Grumman. Selecting a tanker based on the A330 MRTT will provide the U.S. Air Force with the most modern and capable tanker aircraft available today." He added: "This major selection is a win-win for our customers, for allied industrial cooperation and for EADS. It signals a quantum leap forward in our commitment to the U.S. defence customer, reflects and supports our global strategy to increase EADS' industrial presence in key markets and our goal to balance the company's defence and commercial portfolios." Tom Enders, President and CEO of Airbus said: "Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force can count on the full resources of Airbus to support the KC-45A tanker's production and delivery. All four System Design and Development aircraft are already in production. Preparatory work is now underway for our commitment to co-locate the final assembly of the tankers and A330 civilian freighter aircraft at Mobile, Alabama, creating the first new large commercial aircraft assembly facility in the U.S. in over 40 years." Carlos Suarez, Chairman of EADS CASA and Head of Military Transport Aircraft Division stated: "This selection is a monumental achievement and firmly establishes the A330 MRTT as the state-of-the-art air refuelling system. The A330 MRTT platform now has won five consecutive global competitions and is clearly the standard for new-generation tankers worldwide." "We are proud that the U.S. Air Force chose the Northrop Grumman/EADS team to modernize its aerial refuelling fleet," said EADS North America Chairman and CEO Ralph D. Crosby, Jr. "EADS has committed our full resources to support this vital programme for our prime contractor, Northrop Grumman, the U.S. Air Force and the warfighters that this system will serve for decades to come. We already have begun the work necessary to expand our U.S. industrial footprint in support of this important programme." EADS has made major investments in the KC-45A Tanker, as well as its international tanker programmes, spending more than US$ 100 million to develop the aircraft's advanced Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS), while also building the first airframe - which made its maiden flight last September, and will now begin military conversion to the full aerial cargo configuration. Production of KC-45A airframes will be performed at Airbus' new Mobile, Alabama aerospace centre of excellence which houses the Airbus KC-45A final assembly facility. In addition the final assembly of Airbus A330 civilian freighters will be performed there, providing a robust final assembly line to ensure low risk, high efficiency and increased capacity for both the U.S. Air Force and commercial Airbus customers. Source : EADS Boeing Statement on USAF Aerial Refueling Tanker Decision (St. Louis, February 29, 2008) -- We were just informed that our KC-767 Advanced Tanker proposal was not selected in the KC-135 Replacement Program known as KC-X. Obviously we are very disappointed with this outcome. We believe that we offered the Air Force the best value and lowest risk tanker for its mission. Our next step is to request and receive a debrief from the Air Force. Once we have reviewed the details behind the award, we will make a decision concerning our possible options, keeping in mind at all times the impact to the warfighter and our nation. The Boeing Company would like to thank the many people who helped us in this campaign. We have received tremendous support from our suppliers, elected federal/state/local leaders, unions, community groups, and the 160,738 men and women who work for Boeing. Source : Boeing The political ramifications behind this decision could be huge. There will be shock waves in Washington because the Defence Department has gone against the wishes of the politicians from states where Boeing have plants. I cannot recall the US military ever making a major defence procurement offshore before this. I suspect that Boeing burnt themselves during the first tanker procurement process when they tendered a hugely inflated price (thinking that it was a "done deal"). The Defence Department have now sent a signal to all their other suppliers that gouging will not be tolerated. |
keeping in mind at all times the impact to the warfighter and our nation. |
USAF Announces Tanker Contract
(Washington, February 29, 2008) -- Secretary of the Air Force, Michael W. Wynne, and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, announced the selection of Northrop Grumman Corporation, headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif., as the winner of the KC-X competition for development and procurement of up to 179 tanker aircraft for approximately $35 billion.
The initial contract for the newly-named KC-45 is for the system design and development of four test aircraft for $1.5 billion. This contract also includes five production options targeted for 64 aircraft at $10.6 billion. "The tanker is our number one procurement priority right now. Buying the new KC-45A is a major step forward and another demonstration of our commitment to recapitalizing our Eisenhower-era inventory of these critical national assets. Today is not just important for the Air Force, however. It's important for the entire Joint military team, and important for our coalition partners as well. The KC-45A will revolutionize our ability to employ tankers and will ensure the Air Force's future ability to provide our nation with truly Global Vigilance, Reach, and Power," said General McNabb. "It is the first step in our critical commitment to recapitalize our aging fleet to move, supply, and position assets anywhere. In this global Air Force business, the critical element for air bridge, global Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, and global strike is the tanker," said General McNabb. The KC-45A will provide significantly greater air refueling capabilities than the current fleet of Eisenhower-era KC-135s it will begin replacing. For example, it will be able to refuel Air Force and Navy aircraft on every flight. These aircraft have different systems for receiving fuel and today the KC-135s must be set up for one or the other before takeoff. The KC-45A will be equipped for both systems on every flight and will also have connections for wing pods. When wing pods are installed, it can refuel two probe-equipped aircraft, such as Navy and many allied aircraft, at the same time. It can even be refueled in flight by other tankers. The KC-45A will also have defensive systems that allow it to go into dangerous environments that are currently avoided. It will also supplement our airlift fleet by carrying cargo, passengers, and medical patients in a secondary role. The KC-X source selection used a "best value" determination to select a winner based on five factors: Mission Capability, Proposal Risk, Past Performance, Cost/Price, and an Integrated Fleet Air Refueling Assessment (performance in a simulated war scenario). These five factors were developed after consulting with industry and were finalized prior to starting the competition. Considered together, these grading criteria ensured the Air Force maximized the capability delivered to the warfighter while optimizing the taxpayers' investment. The Air Force followed a carefully structured process, designed to provide transparency, maintain integrity and promote fair competition. The Air Force met with offerors on numerous occasions to gain a thorough understanding of their proposals and provide feedback on their strengths and weaknesses. The Air Force also provided insight into government cost estimates throughout the process instead of waiting until the post-decision debrief. The competitors indicated they were pleased with the degree of communication. The evaluation team was comprised of experts covering a broad spectrum of specialties from acquisition to operations and was hand-picked from across the Air Force and other government agencies. As part of the process, the Air Force will now provide a written notice to both the selected and not-selected and offer to provide a debrief on their bid proposals. To maintain the integrity of that process, the Air Force will be unable to provide additional information about the proposals and contract. "Today's announcement is the culmination of years of tireless work and attention to detail by our Acquisition professionals and source selection team, who have been committed to maintaining integrity, providing transparency, and promoting a fair competition for this critical aircraft program," said Secretary Wynne. "Through these efforts, we believe we will provide a higher-value resource to the warfighter and the taxpayer." Source : US Air Force GE's CF6 Engines To Power USAF Tanker Replacement Program (Cincinnati, OH., March 3, 2008) -- General Electric Company CF6 engines will power the Northrop Grumman KC-45A aircraft, which was selected Friday by the United States Air Force (USAF) for its tanker replacement program. The USAF KC-X program calls for 179 tankers, and is the first of three phases to begin replacing the USAF tanker fleet. Including engines, thrust reversers, the flight management system, and services, the approximate value to GE is more than $5 billion (USD) over the life of the program. Initial production engines are scheduled to be delivered in 2010. "We are extremely pleased to support the Air Force in its number one acquisition priority, and we look forward to delivering a breadth of capability throughout the life of this program," said Scott Donnelly, president and chief executive officer of GE Aviation. Northrop Grumman Corporation selected the GE CF6-80E1 engine, which has accumulated almost four million flight-hours in commercial operation on the Airbus A330 aircraft, on which the KC-45A is based. The KC-45A will benefit from a Tech CF6 program, launched in 2007 to incorporate advanced technology into the engine's high-pressure turbine area. New technologies include high-pressure turbine airfoil cooling advancements that will enhance operational reliability, lower maintenance costs and improve fuel burn retention. The KC-45A Tanker carries 45,000 more pounds of fuel than current tanker aircraft, providing a significant boost to the USAF's global reach. It is also designed to refuel Navy and coalition aircraft, and to serve as a multi-role transport aircraft to move passengers, cargo and medical evacuation patients. The CF6 engine family is in service with more than 250 customers worldwide, including Australia and Saudi tankers, almost 7,000 engines delivered to date. Source : General Electric |
So... will the aircraft the RAAF and RAF have ordered, now become known as KC-45s?
I can just imagine a flight line - two aircraft on adjacent stands, both looking like militarised A330s - the one on the left, that's a KC-30; the one on the right, that's a KC-45... :confused: Any clues as to whether the series will get a name (eg. stratotanker, Dakota, etc.)? |
How about the 'Sironen' or Sirro for short - cause its a big bastard that offloads.
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I think the RAAF are going to call it KC-and the sunshine band.
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EADS MTA 1st In-Flight Wet Contact of its ARBS Successfull
News Category: [Defence-Air] (Madrid, March 4, 2008) -- The first in-flight wet contact of the EADS MTA Air Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) has successfully been performed using an F-16 aircraft. This advanced boom system, installed on an Airbus A310 used as a flight test bed, performed the wet contact with the receiver aircraft following the planned procedure, at an altitude of 27000 feet. The contact represented how the ARBS will be used during a typical air-to air refuelling mission. This is the 73rd test flight for the boom system totaling more than 200 flight hours. Along the Flight Test Program the systems have been validated, the boom aerodynamic and the Flight By Wire control system have demonstrated outstanding handling qualities through the whole envelope, the dry contacts had been cleared in flight. After complete ground test refueling operations today fuel transferences in-flight have been made using F-16s from the Portuguese Air Force. This has been the last milestone in the development of the EADS MTA Boom. The ARBS has been chosen by four of the five customers for the A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport) and the first aircraft equipped with the ARBS will be delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force early next year. The air forces of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have chosen the A330 MRTT equipped with the ARBS and the same system has been proposed on the KC-30. This is the variant of the A330 MRTT offered by Northrop Grumman, US partner of EADS that has just won the competition to supply 179 tankers to the USAF. "This is another step forward in our Air Refuelling Boom System programme. It shows our commitment toward the most demanding customers to provide them with the most advanced air-to-air refuelling technologies and systems in the market", said Carlos Suarez, Head of EADS Military Transport Aircraft Division. Source : EADS Buster, I love your work! |
With the Seasprite debacle in mind, why is that I suspect that the boom and drogue and damn near everythng else on the RAAF KC30 (or whatever) will be totally different to the USAF kit?
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Originally Posted by Wiley
... will be totally different to the USAF kit
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I think in this case, we will be relying on the Yanks a touch more then they will on us... :{
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Wiley, I think that you are right. The fact that the US have ordered 4 "test aircraft" would indicate that they have specified their own fit instead of buying what other countries have ordered. The last article that I posted indicates the same boom being offered for the US aircraft - probably will have US made Probe & Drogue systems instead of the FR made systems. There should at least be airframe/engine compatability between RAAF/USAF tankers.
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That EADS press release indicated that wet transfers had been made between the Airbus boom and a Portuguse F16 - that would be a F16 Falcon made by GD/LM and unless the 'guesies have modded their receptacles, it'll be the same as the receptacles on USAF F16s - hence a US standard.
Now unless the Seppos are planning to change the boom receptable standards on their next generation of fighters, logic suggests to me that if it fits a Falcon, it'll fit an Eagle, a Raptor and a JSF. But that's logic and this is defence procurement we're talking about... :hmm: Did anyone else see the irony in the RAAF's first Airbus MRTT having the c/n '747'? |
Originally Posted by Taildragger67
Did anyone else see the irony in the RAAF's first Airbus MRTT having the c/n '747'?
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...All thats left for Qantas to do now, who are supposed to be performing the remaining 330 MRTT conversion in Brisbane, is for them to find some staff that will accept the rediculously low wages on offer.
With a mass exodus of engineers to the sand pit imminent by all accounts I think the Brisbane facility will have enough trouble just providing manpower to maintain the 767 fleet ! Actually come to think of it, 767s start going offshore soon because they can't keep up....oh deary me |
The political ramifications have started!
NGC Responds to Comments Concerning USAF KC-45A Award Decision
(Los Angeles, March 5, 2008) -- When the process to replace America's aging fleet of KC-135 aerial refueling tankers began in 2005, the U.S. Air Force made clear that it wanted a full and fair competition. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) entered the competition with the understanding that if its proposal provided the best value to the warfighter and the American taxpayer, it could win the contract. Since the Air Force's decision to award Northrop Grumman the KC-45A contract was announced, numerous erroneous comments have been repeated in the media and in Congress. In response, the company wants to make the following points clear: Industrial Base * The Northrop Grumman KC-45A tanker program will create a new aerospace manufacturing corridor in the southeastern United States. * The KC-45A program helps return competitiveness to the U.S. aerospace industry. Jobs * The Northrop Grumman KC-45A tanker program does not transfer any jobs from the United States to France or any other foreign country. * The KC-45A tanker will support more than 25,000 jobs in the United States. * The KC-45A U.S. supplier base will include 230 companies in 49 states. * Assembly and militarization of the KC-45A tanker will take place in Mobile, Ala., resulting in the creation of approximately 2,000 direct jobs in the United States. Acquisition Process * The KC-45A competition underwent the most rigorous, transparent acquisition process in U.S. Department of Defense history. * Throughout the process, both competitors in the KC-45A acquisition hailed the Air Force for conducting a fair and open competition. Foreign Content * All modern jetliners are built from a global supplier base and the two entrants in the KC-45A competition are no exception. The Boeing tanker includes parts manufactured in Japan, United Kingdom, Canada and Italy. The Northrop Grumman tanker includes parts built in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and France. * The Northrop Grumman KC-45A will include approximately 60 percent U.S. content. It is America's tanker. Foreign Suppliers to U.S. Military Programs * There are numerous examples of transatlantic cooperation on vital U.S. military programs. Foreign suppliers currently play essential roles in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the VH-71 Presidential Helicopter. In fact, on the C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft program, Boeing is responsible for producing the Alenia Aeronautica (Italy) aircraft in Jacksonville, Fla. * No sensitive military technology will be exported to Europe. For the KC-45A program, a commercial A330 jetliner will be assembled by American workers in EADS's facility in Mobile. The aircraft will then undergo military conversion in an adjacent Northrop Grumman facility. All of the KC-45A's critical military technology will be added by an American company, Northrop Grumman, in America, in Mobile Ala. Source : Northrop Grumman Corporation |
I was wrong with my previous speculation!
Cobham Equipment Selected for USAF Tanker Programme
(February 29, 2008) -- Cobham plc ('Cobham') congratulates Northrop Grumman on the selection of the KC-45A by the USAF for the multi billion dollar tanker programme and is pleased to confirm that the Group's all digital hose and drogue refuelling pods ('pods') will be fitted for under wing and fuselage refuelling. The aircraft will also be fitted with Cobham antennas and avionics equipment. It is anticipated that the total value to Cobham over the life of the programme will be up to $1bn. The pods carry their own power system and can offload approximately 420 gallons of fuel per minute. They are fitted with 90 ft. long hoses and are designed for use with probe-equipped receiver aircraft, and are mounted on pre-existing outboard wing structures under the aircraft's wings. Cobham's fuselage refuelling unit, which also utilises the hose and drogue system, will also be part of the [KC-45's] refuelling capability. It is located within the aircraft fuselage, near the boom and can be used to refuel probe equipped Navy, Marine and allied forces aircraft. Cobham's antennas and avionics equipment are standard equipment on the A330. Allan Cook, Cobham Chief Executive said: "I am absolutely delighted that we will be continuing our long association with the USAF and Northrop Grumman on such an important programme. This is a huge boost to our business and gives us an excellent platform for further investment in our technology, capability and product offering to the customer." Source : Cobham plc |
Tigers
Chronic Snoozer
How about the 'Sironen' or Sirro for short - cause its a big bastard that offloads. SIRRO....SIRRRO..SIRRO Even now on Leichardt Oval Hill it still sounds alright as we watch Benji step the entire opposing defence and flick pass it inside for a try. |
Now, are the Yanks buying a Block 4 A330? Or, as the French would say Blocque de sheet! Can't have foreigners fiddling around with state of the art French FMS' can we?:rolleyes:
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Airbus tanker
Not wishing to sound negative but as an ex RAAF tanker driver and an Airbus 330 pilot with lotsa hours on type, I wonder if Northrop will change all the wiring harnesses away from Kapton which was the original fit in the 707 tanker convert by IAI (and had to be rewired after several wing root fires etc... ) cos that is the type that Airbus use on its fleet....
I assume that the RAAF tanker guys are aware of this on the new MRTT... these harnesses don't react well to combat damage but maybe the technology has changed . I am sure that with all large projects this one will have a few issues that the congress men will say makes it badly handled no matter what the facts!! woodj |
Go the Tigers, but get with the times fellas.... the big bloke who offloads... it's got to be Willy Mason. Let's just call the MRTT "Big Willy"!!:}
PS Both beasts have plenty of bling PPS I happen to be a St.George diehard, so there is no bias:ok: |
A French two holer with a thickish and rather long drogue hanging off each wing? 'Big Willie' sounds about as near a perfect name as I can think of.
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So, by your analogy, that would mean the Hornets are now called the Hopoate's!!!!:eek:
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"Hopoate" in the context of sticking a rocket up an opponent's tailpipe would be a very good fit.:eek:
For those that don't follow Rugby League --- http://www.squackle.com/cgi-bin/yabb...num=1053472499 |
OK in keeping with the 'legends of league' them, I suggest we call them 'Wombats', after the great - no, make that 'the legend that is' - Graham Eadie.
But the 'Hopoate' suggestion has a certain attraction to it! :E Actually on that basis you could rename the F111s the 'Gillmeister' fleet - they live in Queensland, are pretty robust and smash up anything in their path (dunno about the Mach 2 bit, though) |
Nurse: "What's the diagnosis, Doctor Bob?"
Doc: "Possibly THE worst case of thread drift I have ever seen, Nurse Smithers...there's not much we can do I'm afraid." Nurse: "But surely you're not giving up just like that, Doctor Bob?" ;) |
Probe & Drogue to 'Finger up the Jetsy'?....what drift?:confused:
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The political ramifications continue!
Decision Time Nears for Boeing to Protest AF Tanker Award
(St. Louis, March 10, 2008) -- As the deadline nears for a decision on whether to protest a U.S. Air Force contract award for the next refueling tanker aircraft, officials at Boeing [NYSE: BA] spent the weekend evaluating with growing concern the information provided by the Air Force during a Friday debriefing. "As we have gone through this process it has become clearer that this competition was much closer than has been reported, and that raises the stakes if the process was flawed and unfair in any way," said Mark McGraw, Boeing vice president and program manager for tanker programs. "We have serious concerns over inconsistency in requirements, cost factors and treatment of our commercial data." As Boeing enters the final phase of its evaluation, the company is taking exception to reports that the Air Force had not received adequate commercial pricing data from the company. "It was clear from the Request for Proposals that the Air Force was seeking a commercial derivative tanker. However, by treating the Boeing offering as a military aircraft, the process by which the commercial cost/price data provided by Boeing Commercial Airplanes was evaluated has raised significant concerns," McGraw said. "We provided unprecedented insight into Boeing commercial cost/price data that had been developed over 50 years of building commercial aircraft. We believe this data was treated differently than our competitor's information. "It is also important to note that the task of assembling and presenting this commercial data to the Air Force demonstrates the value of cooperation on this program within one company," McGraw added. "This is in sharp contrast to the higher risk involved in two companies from different countries and business cultures who have never worked together on a program of this size before." Boeing is also responding to assertions that the company somehow misread Air Force requirements for the new tanker. "Our proposal was based on the stated criteria in the Air Force's Request for Proposal, with a specific focus on providing operational tanker capability at low risk and the lowest total life cycle cost," McGraw said. "We stand by our offering and believe that it did, and continues to, best meet the requirements. "We take a protest very seriously," McGraw said. "For decades, Boeing has been recognized as a defense company that never takes lightly protests of our customers' decisions. We are following a very rigorous and deliberative process to ensure that we are comfortable that the evaluation was fair, and that ultimately it resulted in the tanker that is best suited to meet the needs of the warfighter." Source : Boeing Boeing to File Protest of USAF Tanker Contract Award (Chicago, March 10, 2008) -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] will file a formal protest on Tuesday asking the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the decision by the U.S. Air Force to award a contract to a team of Northrop Grumman and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) to replace aerial refueling tankers. "Our team has taken a very close look at the tanker decision and found serious flaws in the process that we believe warrant appeal," said Jim McNerney, Boeing chairman, president and chief executive officer. "This is an extraordinary step rarely taken by our company, and one we take very seriously." Following a debriefing on the decision by the Air Force on March 7, Boeing officials spent three days reviewing the Air Force case for its tanker award. A rigorous analysis of the Air Force evaluation that resulted in the Northrop/EADS contract led Boeing to the conclusion that a protest was necessary. "Based upon what we have seen, we continue to believe we submitted the most capable, lowest risk, lowest Most Probable Life Cycle Cost airplane as measured against the Air Force's Request for Proposal," McNerney said. "We look forward to the GAO's review of the decision." Boeing said it would provide additional details of its case in conjunction with the protest filing on Tuesday. Source : Boeing USAF Completes KC-45A Tanker Debriefing to NGC (Los Angeles, March 10, 2008) -- The U.S. Air Force completed its debriefing to Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today and fully explained why the company's KC-45A tanker offering was clearly the superior tanker for the contract to replace the service's aerial refueling tankers. "We greatly appreciate the customer's rigorous and deliberative debrief today. According to the Air Force, Northrop Grumman's KC-45A was selected because it is more advantageous to the government in the key areas of Mission Capability, Past Performance, Cost/Price, and Integrated Fleet Aerial Refueling Assessment. Our tanker clearly provides the warfighter with the best capability and at the best value to the American taxpayer," said Paul Meyer, Northrop Grumman vice president of Air Mobility Systems and KC-45A program manager. "We are under contract and moving out to get badly needed new tankers into the Air Force fleet as soon as possible." Over the course of this source selection process, both competitors have repeatedly stated that the Air Force acquisition process for the KC-X program was fair, open and fully transparent. The process employed was unprecedented in many ways because the Air Force involved acquisition personnel from Office of the Secretary Defense and other military services to ensure the use of fair methodologies, and it provided continuing feedback to both companies on their strengths and weaknesses which allowed them to address and resolve issues. Source : Northrop Grumman Corporation NGC Sets the Record Straight Concerning the USAF KC-45A Misinformation (Los Angeles, March 10, 2008) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) said today that since the Air Force's selection of the Northrop Grumman KC-45A, numerous erroneous comments continue to be repeated in the media and in Congress. Northrop Grumman wants to set the record straight on the following points: Northrop Grumman, a Los Angeles-based company with over 120,000 employees, is the KC-45A tanker prime contractor - A contract between the U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman Corporation for the Northrop Grumman KC-45A was signed on Feb. 29, 2008. - Northrop Grumman KC-45A primary subcontractors include EADS-North America, General Electric, Honeywell, AAR Cargo Systems, Sargent Fletcher, Knight Aerospace Products, Parker and Telephonics. Jobs - The Northrop Grumman KC-45A U.S. supplier base includes 230 companies in 49 states. - The Northrop Grumman KC-45A tanker will support more than 25,000 direct and indirect jobs in the United States -- a conservative estimate based upon the U.S. Department of Commerce aerospace industry jobs projection formula. - Using more recent data from our suppliers and applying the Labor Department's formula for projecting aerospace jobs at the state and regional level, the KC-45A will employ approximately 48,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide. - Assembly and militarization of the Northrop Grumman KC-45A tanker will take place in Mobile, Ala., resulting in the creation of 1,500 jobs in the United States. - Job creation was not a part of the evaluation criteria, in accordance with federal law. - The Northrop Grumman KC-45A tanker program does not transfer any jobs from the United States to France or any other foreign country. Repayable Loans / WTO Dispute Issue - The U.S. Department of Defense ruled that the disputes involving Boeing and Airbus currently being adjudicated by the World Trade Organization were not relevant to the U.S. Air Force's KC-X Tanker competition. Acquisition Process - The KC-45A competition underwent the most rigorous, fair and transparent acquisition process in Defense Department history. - Throughout the process, both competitors in the KC-45A acquisition hailed the Air Force for conducting a fair and open competition. - The size of the proposed tanker aircraft was not dictated by the Air Force nor was size an established criteria -- each contractor was free to propose the best solution and platform to meet Air Force warfighter requirements. - Both contractors had ample opportunity in the protracted acquisition and source selection process to propose the best aerial refueling capability to meet the warfighter's requirements. Reduced Risk to the Government - The first Northrop Grumman KC-45A tanker aircraft was built in July 2007 and flown in September 2007. - The Northrop Grumman KC-45A Aerial Refueling Boom System has completed 73 test flights totaling more than 200 flight hours. The boom completed the first in-flight fuel transfer on Feb. 29, 2008 passing 2,000 pounds of fuel to a Portuguese Air Force F-16 combat aircraft. - The Northrop Grumman KC-45A is based upon the Royal Australian Air Force KC-30B Multirole Tanker -- which has been built, flown, and is undergoing flight tests. It will be delivered on schedule to the Royal Australian Air Force in early 2009. - Boeing's proposed KC-767AT tanker and refueling boom were never built, flown or tested. Industrial Base - The Northrop Grumman KC-45A tanker program will create a new aerospace manufacturing corridor in the southeastern United States. - The KC-45A program helps return competitiveness to the U.S. aerospace industry. Foreign Content - All modern jetliners are built from a global supplier base, and the two entrants in the KC-45A competition are no exception. - Boeing's proposed tanker includes parts manufactured in Japan, United Kingdom, Canada and Italy. - Northrop Grumman tanker includes parts built in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and France -- countries exempt under the Buy America Law. - The Northrop Grumman KC-45A will include approximately 60 percent U.S. content. It is America's tanker. Foreign Suppliers to U.S. Military Programs - There are numerous examples of transatlantic cooperation on vital U.S. military programs. Foreign suppliers currently play essential roles in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the VH-71 Presidential Helicopter and the C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft program. - No sensitive military technology will be exported to Europe. For the KC-45A program, a commercial A330 jetliner will be assembled by American workers in EADS's facility in Mobile. The aircraft will then undergo military conversion in an adjacent Northrop Grumman facility. All of the KC-45A's critical military technology will be added by an American company, Northrop Grumman, in America, in Mobile, Ala. Source : Northrop Grumman Corporation |
Boeing KC-767 Tanker Determined More Survivable in USAF Evaluation
(St. Louis, April 11, 2008) -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today said the U.S. Air Force's decision to award a contract for the next aerial refueling airplane to the team of Northrop Grumman and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) is at odds with the fact that the Northrop/EADS team's KC-30 is less survivable and more vulnerable to attack than the Boeing KC-767 Advanced Tanker.
The Air Force evaluation cited the Boeing offering to be more advantageous in the critical area of survivability. The evaluators found the KC-767 tanker had almost five times as many survivability discriminators as its competitor. Speaking this week at the Aerial Refueling Systems Advisory Group (ARSAG) Conference in Orlando, Fla., former U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff and retired Gen. Ronald Fogleman stressed that survivability greatly enhances the operational utility of a tanker. "When I saw the Air Force's assessment of both candidate aircraft in the survivability area, I was struck by the fact that they clearly saw the KC-767 as a more survivable tanker," Fogleman told the ARSAG audience in his role as a consultant to Boeing's tanker effort. "To be survivable, tanker aircraft must contain systems to identify and defeat threats, provide improved situational awareness to the aircrew to avoid threat areas, and protect the crew in the event of attack. The KC-767 has a superior survivability rating and will have greater operational utility to the joint commander and provide better protection to aircrews that must face real-world threats." On Feb. 29, the Air Force selected Northrop/EADS' Airbus A330 derivative over Boeing's 767 derivative. Boeing subsequently asked the Government Accountability Office to review the decision, citing numerous irregularities and a flawed process that included deviations from the evaluation and award criteria established by the service for the competition. During the Air Force debrief, the Boeing team discovered the KC-767 outranked the KC-30 in the critical survivability category. The KC-767 achieved a total score of 24 positive discriminators -- including 11 described as major -- while the KC-30 scored five, none of which were major. Major survivability discriminators for the Boeing KC-767 included: - More robust surface-to-air missile defense systems - Cockpit displays that improve situational awareness to enable flight crews to better see and assess the threat environment - Better Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP) hardening -- the KC-767 is better able to operate in an EMP environment compared with the KC-30 - Automatic route planning/rerouting and steering cues to the flight crew to avoid threats once they are detected - Better armor-protection features for the flight crew and critical aircraft systems - Better fuel-tank-explosion protection features. Boeing's KC-767 Advanced Tanker will be equipped with the latest and most reliable integrated defensive equipment to protect the aircraft and crew by avoiding, defeating or surviving threats, resulting in unprecedented tanker survivability -- far superior to all current Air Force tankers as well as the Northrop/EADS KC-30. The Boeing KC-767 also includes a comprehensive set of capabilities that enables unrestricted operations while providing maximum protection for the tanker crew. Source : Boeing |
This is the most boring thread in history..........
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Just to keep things boring!
Boeing KC-767 Tanker Adds Up to Best Value for Warfighter, Taxpayers
(St. Louis, April 15, 2008) -- The Boeing [NYSE: BA] KC-767 Advanced Tanker would save billions of dollars over the anticipated lifetime of the aircraft compared with the larger Airbus-based KC-30. Nonetheless, the U.S. government selected the larger air tanker from the team of Northrop Grumman and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS). Due to irregularities in the competition, such as the cost comparison, Boeing has protested the decision and asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to determine if the tanker acquisition process, including the cost analysis, was unfair and flawed. As the GAO reviews the decision, Boeing is also calling on policymakers to question why the comparison of full costs of the new tanker fleet failed to reflect that the Airbus KC-30 tanker is larger, heavier, less fuel-efficient and -- according to the Northrop/EADS team itself -- more costly to operate. "As Americans pay their taxes this week, it's essential that they consider how effectively those dollars will be spent to equip U.S. warfighters," said Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas. "It's especially important to think about the total cost of developing, producing, operating and maintaining vital defense assets that must be ready to fly at least two generations of American military men and women." In evaluating the two tanker offerings, the U.S. government determined that the Boeing KC-767 and the Northrop/EADS KC-30 were nearly equal at a cost of $108 billion to buy and operate 179 tankers over 25 years. Boeing contends that a realistic comparison of life-cycle costs -- what the Air Force calls Most Probable Life-Cycle Costs (MPLCC) -- should have resulted in a significantly higher price tag for the Airbus KC-30 when considering the biggest cost drivers: fuel, maintenance costs and infrastructure. - Fuel: Using commercial aviation data, a Conklin & deDecker Aviation Information fuel study funded by Boeing indicated that with the price of oil between $100-125 per barrel, the larger, heavier and less fuel-efficient KC-30 would cost $30 billion more in fuel costs than the Boeing KC-767 over an anticipated 40-year service life. - Maintenance: Based on the requirements for a smaller aircraft, the KC-767 would be approximately 22 percent less costly than the KC-30. - Military Construction: The larger KC-30 would require approximately $2 billion to build or upgrade hangars, ramps, access roads and other facilities at tanker bases, while existing facilities that are sized for the current fleet of KC-135 tankers will be able to accommodate the smaller KC-767 with substantially less costly improvements required. - Additional Infrastructure Costs: To accommodate Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units -- which operate primarily from civilian airfields and have 60 percent of the Air Force tanker fleet -- further costly investment would be required to upgrade facilities where KC-30s would be based. Source : Boeing |
Maybe Boeing should learn to accept the umps decision.
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NGC KC-45: Why We Won - Mission Capability
Highlighting Reasons the U.S. Air Force Selected the KC-45 Tanker as Best for Our Men and Women in Uniform
(Washington, April 21, 2008) -- The U.S. Air Force found Northrop Grumman's (NYSE:NOC) bid to build the next generation of aerial refueling tankers superior to Boeing's in four of the five most important selection criteria. Despite this fact, the losing bidder wants the Government Accountability Office to overturn the Air Force decision to award the contract to Northrop Grumman. Starting today and regularly in the coming weeks, "Why We Won" will provide detailed examples of why Northrop Grumman was selected, drawing on facts listed in a redacted version of a protected Air Force selection document. We begin with Mission Capability, which includes the crucial function of aerial refueling. Mission Capability The Air Force found the Northrop Grumman KC-45 provides "Better fuel offloads at all distances from bases," "Better air refueling efficiency," "Better offload rate and receive rate," and has "A greater boom envelope vs. Boeing." This means the Northrop Grumman plane can provide more fuel at greater range, is more fuel efficient when executing the tanker mission, can perform many refueling operations faster, and can connect to receivers over a greater volume of airspace behind the tanker than Boeing's aircraft. In a written explanation of the Air Force thinking on this subject, Sue Payton, the Air Force's chief acquisition officer, said the Air Force determined that Northrop Grumman provided "Significant refueling advantages." Payton added that Northrop Grumman's aircraft's "Refueling capability was compelling to my decision." "Northrop Grumman's offer was a superior solution to the air refueling requirement, which is a key performance parameter," Payton wrote. Despite this, Boeing's defenders in Congress are now demanding that the fair and transparent bidding process that led to the Northrop Grumman selection be overturned to ensure that Boeing is given the contract, in spite of the clear inferiority of the plane it offered to our men and women in uniform. In fact, Boeing disagrees with the Air Force formula for air refueling efficiency that shows the winning Northrop Grumman tanker as six percent more efficient in relation to fuel delivered versus fuel consumed, so they invented their own. As the Wall Street Journal concluded in a recent editorial, "There's a word for that, but it's not patriotism." Source : Northrop Grumman Corporation |
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