Arlington, Virginia, March 27, 2008
The U.K.’s fleet of 14 A330-200 tankers will offer operational commonality with U.S. Air Force KC-45As
The United Kingdom today finalized its agreement for EADS’ A330-200 multi-role tanker/transports, signing a 27-year contract to deploy a modern fleet based on the same aircraft chosen by the U.S. Air Force for its KC-45A.
Under terms of this agreement, the Royal Air Force will be provided the services of 14 A330-200 Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) from AirTanker, the EADS-led industrial consortium, which are to be based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England.
The Royal Air Force’s A330-200 uses the same modern airframe as Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 Tanker selected by the U.S. Air Force, as well as by Australia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for their next-generation aerial refueling and military airlift needs.
“The competitive selection of the A330 multi-role tanker by the U.S.’s closest ally definitively demonstrates the superiority of this system over its competitor, the KC-767,” said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., Chairman and CEO of EADS North America.
“The low-risk, highly capable solution offered by EADS’ A330-200 multi-role tanker/transport has been validated once again with its selection by a major U.S. ally-consolidating EADS’ global leadership in aerial refueling aircraft,” said EADS North America Tankers CEO John H. Young, Jr. “The A330-200s operated for the Royal Air Force will become one of the world’s largest new-generation tanker fleets, while also creating significant industrial and operational commonality with the U.S. Air Force’s
KC-45A.”
In a previous announcement approving the program, the U.K. Minister of Defense praised the A330-based multi-role tanker: “FSTA will provide the RAF with a modern air-to-air refueling and strategic air transport capability which is crucial in this era of expeditionary operations.”
Entering service beginning in 2011, the Royal Air Force A330-200s will provide a quantum leap in reliability, performance and economy, supplying approximately twice the refueling capability of its current VC-10 and TriStar aerial tankers.
As with the U.S. Air Force’s KC-45A, the fuel load for flight and aerial refueling operations will be carried in the A330-200’s normal fuel tanks, leaving the cabin free for transporting up to 290 passengers. The aircraft’s under-floor cargo holds will accommodate equipment and supplies up to a maximum total payload of 44 metric tons. With no reconfiguration required (other than for specialist medical evacuations), the Royal Air Force A330-200 tankers can be assigned quickly to a wider range of missions than the existing fleet, significantly enhancing fleet productivity.
