Northrop Grumman KC-45

Infobox Aircraft
name = KC-45

---

caption = Rendering of KC-45 refueling a B-2
type=Tanker/transport
manufacturer= Northrop Grumman/EADS (Airbus)
designer=
first flight=
introduced=
retired=
status= Cancelled
primary user= United States Air Force
more users=
produced=
number built=
unit cost= $200 million
developed from = Airbus A330 MRTT
variants with their own articles =

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 had ordered 179 KC-45As in the first stage of replacing the aging KC-135 tankers currently in service. However, the contest was reopened in July 2008, after Boeing's protest of the award was upheld. In September 2008, the KC-X solicitation was canceled. [http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12195 DoD Announces Termination of KC-X Tanker Solicitation] , US DoD, 10 September 2008]

Development

Background

In the late 1990s - early 2000s, the USAF decided to replace its fleet of KC-135s. Initially the first batch of replacements was to be an air tanker version of the Boeing 767-200, which was selected over the Airbus 330-based tanker. [http://www.military-aerospace-technology.com/article.cfm?DocID=335 "Boeing Given Nod on Tanker Lease"] , Military-Aerospace Technology Magazine; volume: 1, issue: 2, 2002-05-01.] Instead of outright purchase, as is the usual practice, the Air Force would lease the 767 tankers 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 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender fleets. [http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/n09403755-usa-airforce-tanker-competition/ U.S. plans expedited rerun of aerial tanker contest] ]

KC-X program

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.cite news |url=http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123039273 |title=Air Force Posts KC-X Request for Proposals |work=Release Number: 070107 |publisher=United States Air Force |date=2007-01-30] KC-X is the first phase of three acquisition programs to replace the KC-135 fleet. [ [http://www.defenselink.mil/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=10463 "Air Force Posts Request for Proposals for Tankers"] , US DoD, January 30, 2007.]

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. [ [http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123088392 "Tanker contract award announced"] , US Air Force, February 29, 2008.] On 11 March 2008, Boeing filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for the award of the contract to Northrop Grumman; [ [http://boeing.com/news/releases/2008/q1/080311b_nr.html "Boeing Protests U.S. Air Force Tanker Contract Award"] , Boeing, March 11, 2008.] Following the protest filing, Northrop Grumman and Boeing engaged in media campaigns in support of their tanker aircraft.

On 18 June, 2008, the Government Accountability Office upheld a protest by Boeing on the decision to award the contract to Northrop Grumman, indicating that USAF had not properly evaluated the Boeing and Northrop Grumman bids. [http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/GAOBoeing20080718.pdf]

On 9 July, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced the contract for the KC-45 as an "expedited recompetition". Defense Undersecretary John Young was placed in charge of the review process, the Air Force having been removed from the award process. On 10 September 2008, the US Defense Department canceled the KC-X solicitation. Funding for KC-X is to be requested for FY10-FY15.

Production plans

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.Fact|date=July 2008

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. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/01/14/220816/kc-x-win-would-shift-a330-freighter-assembly-to-us.html http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/01/14/220816/kc-x-win-would-shift-a330-freighter-assembly-to-us.html] ] As the winner of the Air Force contract, Northrop Grumman and EADS (the airframe subcontractor) are expected to invest approximately US$600 million in new assembly plants in the United States; both are currently planned to be located adjacent to one another in the Brookley Complex in Mobile.

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. [ [http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/a330_200/ A330-200 Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) - Multi-Role Tanker Transporter (MRTT), Europe] , Airforce-technology.com.]

pecifications

"Note: specifications denoted with a "*" are for the A330."

aircraft specifications/switch
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=jet
ref= Northrop Grumman KC-30 [ [http://www.northropgrumman.com/kc30/performance/specifications.html KC-30 Specifications] , NorthropGrumman.com.] Airbus A330 [ [http://www.airbus.com/en/aircraftfamilies/a330a340/a330-200/specifications.html A330-200 specifications] , Airbus.]
crew=3: Pilot, Copilot, and 1 AAR boom operator
capacity= 226-280 passengers [ [http://www.is.northropgrumman.com/systems/kc30tanker.html Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems - KC-45 Tanker] ] Northrop Grumman KC-30 flyer]
length main=192 ft 11 in
length alt=58.78 m
span main=197 ft 10 in
span alt=60.28 m
height main=57 ft 1 in
height alt=17.40 m
area main=3892 ft²*
area alt=361.6 m²*
airfoil=
empty weight main= 265,657 lb*
empty weight alt= 120,500 kg*
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main= 52 tons
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=507,063 lb*
max takeoff weight alt=230,000 kg*
more general=
*Maximum Fuel Capability: 245,000 lb ( kg)
*Fuel available to offload at 1000 nmi 153,000 ?
*Pallets 32
engine (jet)=General Electric CF6-80E1A4B
type of jet=turbofans*
number of jets=2
thrust main=72,000 lbf
thrust alt=316 kN
max speed main=475 knots, 547 mph*
max speed alt=880 km/h*
cruise speed main=464 knots, 534 mph*
cruise speed alt=860 km/h*
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main=6,750 nm, 7,770 mi*
range alt=12,500 km*
ceiling main=41,000 ft*
ceiling alt=12,500 m*
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Airbus A330 MRTT
* Airbus A330
* Airbus A310 MRTT
similar aircraft=
* KC-10 Extender
* KC-135 Stratotanker
* Boeing KC-767
lists=
* List of tanker aircraft
see also=
* Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft

References

External links

* [http://www.northropgrumman.com/kc45/ Northrop Grumman KC-45 Tanker web page] and [http://www.is.northropgrumman.com/systems/kc30tanker.html Tanker product page]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6227700.stm Rivals eye Boeing's US airforce deal, by Jorn Madslien, BBC News]
* [http://www.keepourtanker.com/ Keep Our Tanker, a website operated by the Mobile County, Alabama Commission supporting the original award and its planned final assembly in Mobile]