KC-X
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KC-X is the name of the United States Air Force program to procure its next-generation aerial refueling tanker aircraft. This aircraft will replace some of the older Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. The United States Air Force announced on February 29, 2008 that Northrop Grumman and EADS was selected as the company who will build the new tankers with their modified A330 design, to be designated the KC-45A.[1] This contract is for 179 new tankers and will be worth an estimated $40 billion.
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[edit] Proposals
The DoD posted a request for proposal on January 30, 2007.[2] The U.S. Air Force's main requirements are "fuel offload and range at least as great as the KC-135", airlift capability, ability to take on fuel in flight, and multi-point refueling capability.[2]
Two manufacturers expressed interest in producing this aircraft:
- A joint venture between Northrop Grumman and EADS/Airbus proposed a version of the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), based on the Airbus A330-200[3]
- Boeing proposed a version of the KC-767, based on the Boeing 767[4]
In February 2007, the Seattle Times commented on the pre-final designs: "Northrop has been viewed as the underdog, with a heavier, less fuel efficient aircraft. The Airbus tanker would have a maximum fuel capacity of 200,000 pounds. Northrop spokesman Randy Belote said Northrop's K-30 would tack on roughly 20 percent in fuel capacity."[5]
Both competitors submitted their tanker proposals before the April 12, 2007 deadline.[6][7] The competitors submitted final revisions of their proposals to the U.S. Air Force on January 3, 2008.[8] On 29 February 2008, the DoD announced their choice of the Northrop Grumman/EADS's KC-30.[9]
In December 2007 it was announced that this aircraft will be designated the KC-45A regardless of which design wins the competition.[10] The DoD anticipated that the KC-45A would start to enter service in 2013.[11]
On March 11, 2008, Boeing filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) of the award of the contract to the Northrop Grumman/EADS team. Boeing stated that there are certain aspects of the USAF evaluation process that have given it grounds to appeal.[12][13]
[edit] Specifications
| A330 MRTT - KC-30 | KC-767 Advanced Tanker (based on 767-200LRF) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Length | 192 ft 11 in (59.69 m) | 159 ft 2 in (48.5 m) |
| Height | 57 ft 1 in (16.9 m) | 52 ft (15.8 m) |
| Wingspan | 197 ft 10 in (60.3 m) | 156 ft 1 in (47.57) |
| Surface area | 3,892 ft² (361.6 m²) | 3,050 ft² (283.3 m²) |
| Fuselage width | 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m) | 16 ft 6 in (5.03 m) |
| Fuselage height | 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m) | 17 ft 9 in (5.41 m) |
| Engines (2x) | RR Trent 700 or GE CF6-80 turbofans |
Pratt & Whitney PW4062 |
| Thrust (× 2) | 72,000 lbf (316 kN) | 63,500 lbf (282 kN) |
| Passengers | 226-280[14] | 190 |
| Cargo | 32 463L pallets | 19 463L pallets |
| Maximum fuel capability | 250,000 lb (113,500 kg) | over 202,000 lb (91,600 kg) |
| Max Takeoff fuel load | 95,800 lb (43,500 kg)[15] additional cargo or fuel load |
over 202,000 lb (91,600 kg) |
| Range | 6,750 nmi (12,500 km) | 6,590 nmi (12,200 km) |
| Cruise speed | Mach 0.82 (860 km/h) | Mach 0.80 (530 mph, 851 km/h) |
| Max speed | Mach 0.86 (880 km/h) | Mach 0.86 (570 mph, 915 km/h) |
| Max takeoff weight | 507,000 lb (230,000 kg) | over 400,000 lb (181,000 kg) |
| Max landing weight | 396,800 lb (180,000 kg) | 300,000 lb (136,000 kg) |
| Empty weight | 265,657 lb (120,500 kg) | 181,600 lb (82,400 kg) |
Sources: Northrop Grumman KC-30,[16] Airbus A330,[17] A330 200F,[18] KC-767 Advanced Tanker,[19] Boeing 767[20] Civil Aircraft[21]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ EADS/Northrop trumps Boeing in Air Force tanker competition. Seattle Times. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
- ^ a b Air Force Posts Request for Proposals for Tankers. United States Department of Defense. Retrieved on 2007-02-16.
- ^ Northrop Grumman KC-30 marketing web site. Northrop Grumman. Retrieved on 2007-02-16.
- ^ Boeing Offers KC-767 Advanced Tanker to U.S. Air Force. Boeing (2007-02-12). Retrieved on 2007-02-16.
- ^ Borak, Donna (2007-02-13). Boeing Tweaks 767 for Tanker. The Seattle Times. Retrieved on 2007-02-23.
- ^ Boeing Submits KC-767 Advanced Tanker Proposal to U.S. Air Force
- ^ Northrop Grumman Submits KC-X Tanker Proposal to U.S. Air Force
- ^ "Boeing, Northrop Submit Final Tanker Proposals To USAF", Aviation Week, January 4, 2008.
- ^ "Northrop Wins Tanker Contract, Beating Out Rival Boeing", Wall Street Journal, February 29, 2008.
- ^ "Boeing, Northrop vying for KC-10 service deal", Al.com, 7 December 2007.
- ^ "New tanker to bring increased capabilities to warfighter", US Air Force, 3 March 2008.
- ^ "Boeing Protests U.S. Air Force Tanker Contract Award", Boeing, March 11, 2008.
- ^ "Air Force officials respond to Boeing protest" USAF, March 12, 2008.
- ^ Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems - KC-45 Tanker
- ^ A330-200 Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) - Multi-Role Tanker Transporter (MRTT), Europe
- ^ KC-30 Specifications, NorthropGrumman.com.
- ^ A330-200 specifications, Airbus.
- ^ A330-200F specifications
- ^ KC-767 Advanced Tanker product card
- ^ 767 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning, Boeing.
- ^ Frawley, Gerard: The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004, Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7
