Subscribe to our RSS feed

Issue 20 – August 6, 2007

In this issue of the EADS North America Tanker Activity Update:

•	Initial Assembly of the First Northrop Grumman KC-30 Tanker is completed in 30 days
•	Honeywell and Knight Aerospace Products join the Northrop Grumman KC-30 industrial team

Initial Assembly of the First Northrop Grumman KC-30 Tanker is completed in 30 days

The first Northrop Grumman KC-30 Tanker designated for U.S. Air Force's refueling fleet modernization completed its initial airframe assembly in July, illustrating an efficient and low-risk approach for quickly replacing the service's KC-135 tanker fleet.

This developmental KC-30, designated SDD-1, entered final assembly a month earlier at the EADS commercial aircraft center when technicians began fitting together large subassemblies to create the commercial A330 airframe.

It was the 871st airframe built on the A330/A340 final assembly line. The aircraft is now in ground testing as part of the assembly process, and will be ready for military modification in late November - one month after the currently projected contract award for the Air Force's KC-X program to recapitalize its aging aerial tanker fleet.

The Northrop Grumman KC-30 Tanker benefits from an active commercial production line, which is supported by a fully operational industrial supply chain. To date, more than 1,110 A330/A340s have been sold, with 800-plus aircraft delivered to international operators and over 240 aircraft in the current backlog.

A powerful U.S. and allied industrial team led by Northrop Grumman has been established to produce and supply KC-30 Tankers for the U.S. Air Force. The aircraft is based on the A330 Multi-role Tanker Transport, which was selected to support the air forces of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

The Northrop Grumman KC-30 Tanker carries 45,000 more pounds of fuel than a KC-135 or any competitor, providing a significant boost to the U.S. Air Force's global reach. The KC-30 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.

Honeywell and Knight Aerospace Products join the Northrop Grumman KC-30 industrial team

Two additional companies have joined the Northrop Grumman-led KC-30 Tanker industrial team.

Northrop Grumman selected Honeywell to provide its FAA-certified Military Airborne Collision Avoidance System - Formation Rendezvous (MILACAS-FR), which will enhance accuracy and safety during flight formations by detecting nearby aircraft and evaluating their threat potential to the KC-30.

The system provides traffic alerts and maneuvering advisories to help pilots avoid mid-air collisions and fly in tight formations -- operations inherent to the mid-air refueling mission.

Honeywell's MILACAS-FR was certified earlier this year for use on all military aircraft, and currently is being installed on other air mobility aircraft. Honeywell employees in Arizona, New Mexico and Florida are supporting the KC-30 Tanker program.

Knight Aerospace Products, Inc., of San Antonio, Texas will provide palletized passenger seats for the KC-30 Tanker's passenger and troop carrying capability. The roll-on-roll-off palletized seats will allow U.S. Air Force airmen to quickly reconfigure the KC-30 to meet a variety of mission requirements when the tanker is used in a transport role.

The Northrop Grumman KC-30 Tanker program will create and support 40 aerospace jobs at Knight Aerospace's San Antonio location. The company's recent expansion in the San Antonio area includes a 41,500 square-foot manufacturing and administration facility.

Contact:
Guy Hicks
Vice President – Communications and Public Relations
EADS North America
Tel: 703 236-3300
e-mail: guy.hicks@eads-na.com