Northrop Grumman KC-45
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This article contains information about a scheduled or anticipated future aircraft.
It may contain preliminary or speculative information, and may not reflect the final version of the aircraft.
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| KC-45 | |
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 Rendering of KC-45 refueling a B-2 |
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| Type | Tanker/transport |
| Manufacturer | Northrop Grumman/EADS (Airbus) |
| Status | In development |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| Unit cost | $200 million |
| Developed from | Airbus A330 MRTT |
The Northrop Grumman/EADS KC-45 is an aerial refueling tanker aircraft based on the Airbus A330 MRTT (KC-30), a derivative of the civil A330-200. The United States Air Force has ordered 179 KC-45As in the first stage of replacing the aging KC-135 tankers currently in service.
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[edit] Development
[edit] KC-X program
In the late 1990s - early 2000s, the USAF decided to replace its fleet of KC-135s. Initially the first batch of replacement planes was to be an air tanker version of the Boeing 767; instead of outright purchase, as is the usual practice, the Air Force would lease them from Boeing. In January 2006, then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced the cancellation of the KC-767 contract. This followed public revelations of corruption in how the contract was awarded, as well as controversy regarding the original leasing rather than outright purchase agreement. Former USAF Procurement Officer Darleen Druyun and Boeing CFO Michael M. Sears were later found guilty in the corruption scheme. Rumsfeld stated that this move would in no way impair the Air Force's ability to deliver the mission of the KC-767, which was to be accomplished by continuing upgrades to the KC-135 and KC-10 Extender fleet.
In 2006, the USAF released a request for proposal (RFP) for a new tanker aircraft, known as the KC-X RFP, which was updated in January 2007 and was to be selected by 2007.[1] KC-X is the first phase of three acquisition programs to replace the KC-135 fleet.[2]
On 29 February 2008, the Department of Defense announced that it had selected the Northrop Grumman "KC-30" (designated the KC-45A by the USAF) over the Boeing KC-767 for the first stage of the program.[3]
As the winner of the Air Force contract, Northrop Grumman and EADS (the airframe subcontractor) is expected to invest approximately US$600 million in a new assembly plant in the United States, currently planned for the Brookley Complex in Mobile, Alabama. On 11 March 2008, Boeing filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for the award of the contract to Northrop Grumman.[4] Since the filing of the protest, Northrop Grumman and Boeing are engaged in media campaigns in support of their tanker aircraft.
[edit] Into production
Final assembly of the initial KC-30 tanker platform, which is known as SDD-1, began at the Airbus final assembly line in Toulouse, France in June 2007. By July the airframe sections had been completely spliced and the wing installed.
With the exception of the first four units which will be converted from passenger versions at EADS EFW in Dresden, Germany, Airbus will assemble the aircraft in Mobile, Alabama, after which they will be modified by Northrop Grumman. EADS has also announced plans to shift A330 commercial freighter assembly to Alabama.[5]
[edit] Design
The A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) is a military derivative of the Airbus A330 airliner. It is designed as a dual-role air refueling tanker and cargo transport aircraft. The wing air refueling pods are supplied by the British company Cobham. The cargo hold has been modified by Telair to be able to transport military pallets in addition to civilian ULD.
The A330 has a large internal fuel capacity of 111,000 kg (122 short tons) in the wings; fuel capacity can be further increased with underfloor tanks, which would not compromise main deck cargo capacity or seating in the strategic transport role. Standard fuel capacity allows the carriage of an additional 43,000 kg of cargo. Another major benefit of the A330 MRTT is its wing has common structure as the four-engine A340-200/-300 with reinforced mounting locations for the A340's outboard engines. The A330 MRTT's wing therefore requires little modification for use of these hardpoints for the refuelling pods.[6]
[edit] Specifications
Note: specifications denoted with a "*" came from the A330.
Data from Northrop Grumman KC-30[7] Airbus A330[8]
General characteristics
- Crew: 3: Pilot, Copilot, and 1 AAR boom operator
- Capacity: 226-280 passengers[9][10]
- Length: 58.78 m (192 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 60.28 m (197 ft 10 in)
- Height: 17.40 m (57 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 361.6 m²* (3892 ft²*)
- Empty weight: 120,500 kg* (265,657 lb*)
- Useful load: (52 tons)
- Max takeoff weight: 230,000 kg* (507,063 lb*)
- Powerplant: 2× General Electric CF6-80E1A4B turbofans*, 316 kN (72,000 lbf) each
- Maximum Fuel Capability: 245,000 lb ( kg)
- Fuel available to offload at 1000 nmi 153,000 ?
- Pallets 32[10]
Performance
- Maximum speed: 880 km/h* (475 knots, 547 mph*)
- Cruise speed: 860 km/h* (464 knots, 534 mph*)
- Range: 12,500 km* (6,750 nm, 7,770 mi*)
- Service ceiling: 12,500 m* (41,000 ft*)
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
[edit] References
- ^ "Air Force Posts KC-X Request for Proposals", Release Number: 070107, United States Air Force, 2007-01-30.
- ^ "Air Force Posts Request for Proposals for Tankers", US DoD, January 30, 2007.
- ^ "Tanker contract award announced", US Air Force, February 29, 2008.
- ^ "Boeing Protests U.S. Air Force Tanker Contract Award", Boeing, March 11, 2008.
- ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/01/14/220816/kc-x-win-would-shift-a330-freighter-assembly-to-us.html
- ^ A330-200 Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) - Multi-Role Tanker Transporter (MRTT), Europe, Airforce-technology.com.
- ^ KC-30 Specifications, NorthropGrumman.com.
- ^ A330-200 specifications, Airbus.
- ^ Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems - KC-45 Tanker
- ^ a b Northrop Grumman KC-30 flyer
[edit] External links
- Northrop Grumman KC-45 Tanker web page and Tanker product page
- Rivals eye Boeing's US airforce deal, by Jorn Madslien, BBC News
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