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KC-X

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For the aircraft being developed by Northrop Grumman, see Northrop Grumman KC-45.

KC-X is the name of the United States Air Force program to procure its next-generation aerial refueling tanker aircraft. This aircraft is intended to 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 Airbus A330 design, to be designated the KC-45A.[1] This contract is for 179 new tankers and will be worth an estimated US$40 billion.

On June 18, 2008, the U.S. Government Accountability Office sustained a protest by Boeing on the award of the contract to Northrop Grumman and EADS.[2][3] On July 9, 2008, the Defense Secretary Robert Gates reopened the bidding process,[4] but canceled the current KC-X solicitation on 10 September 2008.[5]

Proposals

The DoD posted a request for proposal on January 30, 2007.[6] 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.[6]

Two manufacturers expressed interest in producing this aircraft:

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."[9]

Both competitors submitted their tanker proposals before the April 12 2007 deadline.[10][11] The competitors submitted final revisions of their proposals to the U.S. Air Force on January 3, 2008.[12] On 29 February 2008, the DoD announced their choice of the Northrop Grumman/EADS's KC-30.[13]

In December 2007 it was announced that this aircraft will be designated the KC-45A regardless of which design wins the competition.[14] The DoD anticipated that the KC-45A would start to enter service in 2013.[15]

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.[16][17] Their protest was upheld by the GAO on June 18, 2008, who recommended that the Air Force rebid the contract.[2] On July 9, 2008, the Defense Secretary Robert Gates put the contract for the KC-45 into an "expedited recompetition" with Defense Undersecretary John Young in charge of the selection process instead of the Air Force.[4] A draft of the revised RFP was provided to the contractors on 6 August 2008 for comments. Proposals were due in October 2008 and selection were planned to be done by the end of the year.[18] In mid-August, there was speculation that Boeing was considering a "no bid" position.[19]

On September 10, Defense Secretary Robert Gates canceled the RFP. "Rather than hand the next Administration an incomplete and possibly contested process, Secretary Gates decided that the best course of action is to provide the next Administration with full flexibility regarding the requirements, evaluation criteria, and the appropriate allocation of defense budget to this mission," a Pentagon release stated.[5][20]

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[21] 190
Cargo 32 463L pallets 19 463L pallets
Maximum fuel capability 250,000 lb (113,500 kg) 202,000+ lb (91,600 kg)
Max Takeoff fuel load 241,400 lb (109,500 kg)[22] 202,000+ lb (91,600 kg)
Range 6,750 nmi (12,500 km) 6,590 nmi (12,200 km)
Cruise speed Mach 0.82 (534 mph, 860 km/h) Mach 0.80 (530 mph, 851 km/h)
Maximum speed Mach 0.86 (570 mph, 915 km/h) Mach 0.86 (570 mph, 915 km/h)
Max takeoff weight 507,000 lb (230,000 kg) 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,[23] Airbus A330,[24] A330 200F,[25] KC-767 Advanced Tanker,[26] Boeing 767,[27] Civil Aircraft,[28] A330FSTA[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ "EADS/Northrop trumps Boeing in Air Force tanker competition". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  2. ^ a b "Statement Regarding the Bid Protest Decision Resolving the Aerial Refueling Tanker Protest by the Boeing Company" (PDF). Government Accountability Office. 2008-06-18. Retrieved 2008-06-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Gary L. Kepplinger, General Counsel (June 18, 2008). "B-311344; B-311344.3; B-311344.4; B-311344.6; B-311344.7; B-311344.8; B-311344.10; B-311344.11, The Boeing Company, June 18, 2008".
  4. ^ a b Kruzel, John J. "Pentagon Reopens Bidding on Tanker Contract", US DoD, July 9, 2008.
  5. ^ a b "DoD Announces Termination of KC-X Tanker Solicitation", US DoD, 10 September 2008.
  6. ^ a b "Air Force Posts Request for Proposals for Tankers". United States Department of Defense. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
  7. ^ "Northrop Grumman KC-30 marketing web site". Northrop Grumman. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
  8. ^ "Boeing Offers KC-767 Advanced Tanker to U.S. Air Force". Boeing. 2007-02-12. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
  9. ^ Borak, Donna (2007-02-13). "Boeing Tweaks 767 for Tanker". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
  10. ^ Boeing Submits KC-767 Advanced Tanker Proposal to U.S. Air Force
  11. ^ Northrop Grumman Submits KC-X Tanker Proposal to U.S. Air Force
  12. ^ "Boeing, Northrop Submit Final Tanker Proposals To USAF", Aviation Week, January 4, 2008.
  13. ^ "Northrop Wins Tanker Contract, Beating Out Rival Boeing", Wall Street Journal, February 29, 2008.
  14. ^ "Boeing, Northrop vying for KC-10 service deal", Al.com, 7 December 2007.
  15. ^ "New tanker to bring increased capabilities to warfighter", US Air Force, 3 March 2008.
  16. ^ "Boeing Protests U.S. Air Force Tanker Contract Award", Boeing, March 11, 2008.
  17. ^ "Air Force officials respond to Boeing protest" USAF, March 12, 2008.
  18. ^ "Pentagon Issues New Tanker Bid Parameters", Aviation Week, 6 August, 2008.
  19. ^ Butler, Amy (2008-08-11). "Boeing Leaning Toward Not Re-bidding KC-X". Aviation Week. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "The USAF's KC-X Aerial Tanker RFP: Canceled". Defense Industry Daily. 2008-09-110. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems - KC-45 Tanker
  22. ^ Calculated as difference of max takeoff weight (507,000 lb, 230,000 kg) and plane's empty weight (265,657 lb, 120,500 kg)
  23. ^ KC-30 Specifications, NorthropGrumman.com.
  24. ^ A330-200 specifications, Airbus.
  25. ^ A330-200F specifications
  26. ^ KC-767 Advanced Tanker product card
  27. ^ 767 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning, Boeing.
  28. ^ Frawley, Gerard: The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004, Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7
  29. ^ A330-200 Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) - Multi-Role Tanker Transporter (MRTT), Europe
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