Seattle’s Channel 5 covered the Governor’s press conference on the KC-X Tanker contract, in Washington D.C, this afternoon. According to Channel 5:

At the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Washington state Gov. Chris Gregoire announced the launch of a bi-partisan coalition of governors to push for Boeing-built refueling tankers. It’s called the U.S. Tanker 2010 Coalition, and other states represented include Oregon, Kansas, Connecticut, Maine, Utah, Illinois, Missouri and Iowa – all states with a stake in the outcome, mostly as suppliers of parts.

“Together, we are going to make it known we’re going to fight for this work,” Gregoire said Monday.

Read more at King5.com.

We are very proud of our 80-year tanker heritage at Boeing. But it’s also very important to show you what the future of air refueling could be. While we have highly capable KC-767 tankers flying in operational squadrons in Japan today and in the future in Italy, it's time we provide a glimpse of our 'family of tankers' operating together.

That’s why we’re thrilled to show you our new video...

When global reach and mission success is critical, the combat-ready KC-7A7 is ready to deliver maximum capability at lowest cost...all on day one.

Enjoy!

While our opponent and their supporters have begun attacking the U.S. Air Force and its KC-X Tanker draft Request for Proposal, we have chosen to work within the process and continue asking questions some of which are posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website.

In the past, this competition to replace America’s critical fleet of air refueling tankers has been fought very publicly. Our preference is to allow the process to play out rather than work the requirements through the media. We will talk about the KC-X tanker competition when we’re ready and when it’s appropriate.

Ultimately, the men and women who selflessly serve our nation deserve the very best. We believe that is an American designed and built, combat-ready tanker with max capability at lowest cost. That tanker is the Boeing KC-7A7.

EADS Advanced Refueling Boom Transfers Fuel From Australian A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport to F-16 Fighter

ARLINGTON, VA — (Marketwire) — 10/22/09 — The EADS A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) — currently in production for four allied nations — marked another major performance milestone with the first in-flight refueling performed from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) A330 MRTT utilizing its integrated Aerial Refueling Boom System (ARBS).

The contacts and subsequent fuel transfers were made with two F-16 receiver aircraft and validated the advanced ARBS handling qualities, precision, and stability on the A330 MRTT, as well as the capabilities of its 3-D vision system. The flight lasted four hours and 30 minutes, with more than 3,300 pounds of fuel transferred during 13 contacts.

EADS’ fly-by-wire ARBS is one of the key technological discriminators for the A330 MRTT and Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 offering to the U.S. Air Force, providing the only digital, all-electric fly-by-wire refueling system available today.

The ARBS has already made more than 250 wet and dry contacts with a wide range of receiver aircraft, in a full range of operating conditions and throughout the flight envelope, while the boom was deployed on an EADS test-bed aircraft.

“This significant milestone demonstrates the maturity of the world’s most modern aerial refueling boom system as integrated on the only next-generation tanker aircraft in production today,” said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EADS North America. “The A330 MRTT is one important step closer to service introduction with a key allied military service, the Royal Australian Air Force.”

“The ARBS was just as smooth and easy to control during these contacts as it has been in all our prior work with it,” said Don Cash, boom operator for the A330 MRTT test flight. “The precision of the system makes the boom feel just like an extension of my arm.”

Cash is a retired U.S. Air Force boom operator with more than 20 years’ experience aboard the KC-135 and KC-10, and has been on the ARBS design team for five years. “I’ve had the needs of the warfighter in mind from the beginning, and we’ve arrived at a system that offers them a level of performance and reliability unmatched by any system available in the world today and for the foreseeable future.”

The RAAF’s A330 MRTT is similar in configuration to Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 Tanker offered for the U.S. Air Force to recapitalize its aging aerial refueling fleet. Both aircraft are equipped with the EADS ARBS, plus a pair of all-digital Cobham 905E refueling pods under the wings. This mix of boom and pod refueling technologies ensures the A330 MRTT and KC-45 can transfer fuel to all types of receiver aircraft during a single mission without reconfiguration. The KC-45 also offers a centerline hose-and-drogue fuselage refueling unit.

The boom’s maximum nominal fuel flow rate is 1,200 U.S. gallons per minute, while the pods can deliver up to 420 gallons of fuel per minute. Aerial refueling operations are controlled from a state-of-the-art Remote Aerial Refueling Operator console in the cockpit behind the pilots, incorporating the enhanced vision system with laser infrared lighting and high-definition digital stereoscopic viewing.

“I have situational awareness and a field of view that far exceed anything I ever had during my Air Force career,” Cash said, “with crystal-clear visuals night or day.”

EADS North America is a principal teammate on Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 Tanker program, and is responsible for delivering the aircraft platform, which will be produced at a new aerospace center of excellence to be built in Mobile, Ala.

Airbus Military, an EADS company, is responsible for the design and production of the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport for international customers, which today includes Australia, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Orders from those countries total 28 aircraft. The A330 MRTT has won all of the international competitions for new-generation aerial tankers since 2004.

The RAAF will receive its first of five A330 MRTTs in 2010, two of which have completed conversion and currently are in flight test. Upon delivery to the RAAF, they will be designated the KC-30A.

About EADS North America (www.eadsnorthamerica.com)

EADS North America is the North American operation of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services. As a leader in all sectors of defense and homeland security, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute over $11 billion to the U.S. economy annually and support more than 200,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services. Operating in 17 states, EADS North America offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.

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Media Contact:

Guy Hicks
Vice President, Corporate Communications
EADS North America
Tel: 703 236 3346
E-mail: Email Contact

Prior to the release of the latest RFP for the KC-X tanker program some in Congress and the media mooted using a split award for the aircraft. This would allow for faster fielding of tankers to expedite replacement of the older KC-135′s. It would also possibly reduce the chance of a protest by either Northrop or Boeing as well as spreading the contract around to different states.

The biggest issue with the idea is that it would add cost to the program. Through the necessity of having two separate support tails the overall program would be more expensive. There would be two training tracks, sets of support equipment and parts pools alone. The aircraft also may not be complimentary. The DoD estimated back in April that the total additional cost would be over $14 billion.

Obviously neither the Air Force or the U.S. Government has this kind of money available to support the idea. It would have to be payed for at the expense of other Air Force or DoD programs. It may be that cost estimates with more refinement are created that reduce this, but right now the plan is one company and one aircraft.

Since 9/11 the U.S. military has moved to integrate even more their National Guard and Reserve Forces. They have been called up at high rates and have received more and upgraded equipment. Currently the Air National Guard of various states like Alabama fly KC-135 tankers. If the full fleet of KC-X aircraft are built then some of the states will receive these new tankers. Recently it was announced that the Air National Guard will provide participation on the KC-X source selection. This is most likely to help make sure that any specific requirements of the Air Guard are considered and is not common with programs of this size.

The EADS facility in Mobile, AL was renamed the Airbus Military North America facility from EADS CASA North America. This plant will be used to assemble the A330 tankers that will be militarized by Northrop Grumman if that team wins the KC-X contract again. The plan to use an empty factory has gained the company a great deal of support from Alabama politicians.

While we appreciate the coverage of our KC-7A7 'family of tankers' in this DoD Buzz posting, it is important we correct the record. Boeing has not made any decision about which tanker to offer or whether to offer both KC-7A7 tankers. With the U.S. Air Force only posting the KC-X Draft RFP on FedBizOpps.gov last Friday (Sept. 25), it is way too early to make that decision. Our team is taking a very thorough, one-company approach to reviewing this important document and we clearly understand that the Air Force customer plans on selecting one airplane as a winner in this competition. One of the great benefits of having a range of options to offer in this competition is being able to ultimately present the Air Force with one proposal -- or two -- that best meet their requirements while providing the best value to American taxpayers.

The United States Air Force is holding a competition to pick the new United States Tanker, a decision that will have a long-term effect on America’s national security and ability to project power around the world. When it comes to tankers, our nation’s warfighters deserve the best capabilities and taxpayers deserve the best value.

Boeing is looking forward to the competition. We believe that our rich legacy of tanker experience – which includes inventing and advancing boom refueling technology by delivering more than 2,000 tankers over six decades – gives us the edge in providing the U.S. Air Force with the most capable tanker for the best value.

We’ve created UnitedStatesTanker.com in order to speak directly to you about our plans, as well as provide updates on news as it happens. We hope to foster a transparent and lively dialogue about our next tanker that will educate everyone involved.

The new United States Tanker will make America’s military more capable and more efficient. UnitedStatesTanker.com is dedicated to that future. Welcome.