We’re excited to be at the Air Force Association’s annual convention today (View our presentation), participating in the vibrant community that is unique to the Air Force. One of the most talked about topics here at the convention is the Air Force’s upcoming competition to build a new fleet of tanker refueling aircraft – a competition that Boeing is proud to take part in.

Soon, the Pentagon will release its draft request for proposals for new tankers. We’re looking forward to working with the Air Force to understand these requirements so we can offer the most capable tanker to the warfighter at the best value for the taxpayer.

Boeing’s decades-long experience in building 2,000 tankers and in manufacturing derivative aircraft to meet specific Air Force missions gives us an edge over the competition in putting together the most technologically advanced proposal that will be tailored to meet the Air Force’s specific needs.

Although Boeing has many options to consider, there are three fundamental reasons why we can offer the most capable and best value tanker to the Air Force:

Boeing’s Tanker Will Be Mission Ready. Boeing is the only company whose boom-equipped tanker aircraft are flying in combat missions today. And independent reports show that its new advanced tanker designs will be the most survivable and dependable tanker aircraft in history. Boeing’s powerful blend of innovation and experience will deliver the most capable tanker to the warfighter, built to perform on command in the crucible of combat.

Boeing’s Tanker Will Be American-Designed. America’s aerospace industry leads the world in cutting-edge technology and the highest-quality manufacturing. As a result, Boeing will be able to offer 5^th generation boom technology with fly-by-wire design, a state-of-the-art flight deck and a proven airframe that will last the next 50 years and beyond.

Boeing’s Tanker Will Offer Maximum Capability At Less Cost. Whether the Air Force is looking for an expeditionary tanker as a replacement for the KC-135 or a tanker with increased cargo and fuel capacities, Boeing has an outstanding portfolio of commercial aircraft that will make great air refueling tankers. Boeing is uniquely positioned today to manufacture the most technologically advanced and capable aircraft using economies of scale that will lower cost and risk for taxpayers.

Tanker aircraft and the brave crews that fly them are known as the workhorses of the Air Force – the aircraft that enable fighters, bombers, and cargo aircraft to fly farther and faster, to complete their missions and return home safely.

Boeing looks forward to developing what we believe will be the most capable and best value tanker for the Air Force and we’re glad to be sharing our passion for tankers with the Air Force community here at AFA.

Boeing invented boom refueling 60 years ago, and has since built and delivered more than 2,000 of the best aerial refueling tankers in the world, setting the global standard for tanker refueling and continuing to push the leading edge of refueling technology.

So when the United States put out the request for a new tanker, Boeing gathered all of its tanker know-how into one place: the new KC-7A7 tanker.

The KC-7A7 design represents the pinnacle of Boeing’s eight decades of tanker experience:

• A state-of-the-art fly-by-wire refueling boom that reduces maintenance requirements and utilizes unique new safety features
• Advanced avionics that improve situational awareness, reduce pilot workload and guarantee access to world-wide airspace, making it the most versatile tanker in history
• Superior countermeasures designed to defeat enemy threats, which make it the most survivable tanker in history
• Cargo and passenger space unprecedented in a fielded tanker makes the KC-7A7 a game-changer for mobility operations.

So what does the “A” stand for? The “A” signifies the superior capabilities Boeing offers on any one of multiple airframes built every day for its global customers.

Here at Boeing, we also like to say that the “A” stands for:

• Advanced – our next tanker will have the most modern equipment and design features that our nation’s warfighters need today
• Agility – a tanker that can operate around the world in any airspace, in harm's way, while refueling any receiver, anytime, anywhere
• Ability – Boeing’s experience at building and modifying tankers – more than 2,000 of them
• Available – Boeing is delivering 21st century tankers now and they are in operational service today
• Awesome – Boeing’s new tanker will be incredibly capable, the culmination of decades of experience and innovation.

In fact, it’s all these things – that’s why we’re confident the KC-7A7 will soon be the next United States Tanker.

In 1948, Boeing invented the “flying boom,” a long telescoping tube with its own small set of wings and telescope control that boom operators used to plug the fuel nozzle into the receiving aircraft. The large diameter of the flying boom enabled tankers to offload fuel at a much faster rate compared with “hose and drogue” systems, making it possible to refuel bomber and cargo aircraft all in a matter of minutes.

Building on 60 years of development and innovation, Boeing is still the leader in boom technology, currently delivering aircraft to Japan with a fifth-generation boom. This same boom will be offered to the U.S. Air Force for its KC-7A7 tankers.

Boeing’s fifth-generation boom makes several improvements over previous refueling booms, including:

• An advanced fly-by-wire system offering more precise and reliable boom control
• Well-developed control laws that give the boom rock-solid flying characteristics
• The Automatic Load Alleviation System, which automatically sends flight commands to the boom ruddevators to alleviate forces on the boom and reduce boom operator workload
• The full-time Independent Disconnect System eliminates the danger of damage to the boom or the receiver aircraft. Allowing the boom operator to retract the boom nozzle from the receiver aircraft receptacle independent of the state of the receiver boom latches
• Reduced maintenance requirements.

When it comes to refueling, it’s all about the boom. Boeing’s fifth-generation, state-of-the-art refueling boom improves the ease and reliability of in-flight refueling, allowing receiver aircraft to successfully complete their missions.