EADS N.V. - KC-45 Tanker

Issue 49 – November 6, 2008

In this issue of the EADS North America Tanker Activity Update:

- EADS’ A310 MRTT refuels the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft
- The worldwide operational fleet grows for the KC-45 Tanker’s A330 civil jetliner version
- 100-employee milestone reached at the Mobile, Alabama Engineering Center

The EADS A310 MRTT (Multi-role Tanker/Transport) has demonstrated its capability to refuel one of the world’s most advanced multi-role combat aircraft – the multinational Eurofighter Typhoon – in a series of qualification flights that transferred approximately 74,000 lb. of fuel during three recent sorties.

Two Eurofighters – a single-seat Typhoon and a two-seat version – made more than 35 wet and dry contacts with the A310 MRTT’s hose and drogue refueling system during missions lasting up to five hours.

The sorties, which utilized a German Air Force A310 MRTT, involved handling qualities and fuel system assessments at altitudes ranging from 15,000 ft. to 30,000 ft.

A total of nine flights are planned for the Typhoon’s in-flight refueling certification with the A310 MRTT, which is expected to be completed by year-end. Eurofighters already are flown by the air forces of Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy and Austria, and also have been ordered by Saudi Arabia.

A310 MRTTs are in service with both Germany and Canada, underscoring EADS’ capability to provide mission-ready refueling aircraft that are used to support NATO operations and other missions. These A310 MRTTs have an air refueling operator’s station located in the cabin behind the cockpit and carry a pair of Cobham 900 series underwing hose and drogue refueling pods - the same series of pods used on the A330 MRTT and planned for the KC-45.

The A330 jetliner – on which Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 Tanker is based – has further expanded its worldwide presence as sustained deliveries and production of this twin-engine aircraft continue to meet global demand.

New operators of the A330 include Grupo Marsans, Spain’s largest tourism and transport group; Colombian flag carrier Avianca; and AirAsia X, which is the long-haul, low-cost unit of Malaysia’s AirAsia Group.

Over 1,010 A330s have been ordered in passenger, freighter and multi-role tanker versions, with a total of more than 580 delivered to date.

EADS’ presence in the U.S. has marked a new step at the Airbus Engineering Center, which now employs more than 100 persons at its Mobile, Alabama facility. The 100-employee milestone was reached ahead of the company’s commitment to the community.

During the two years of operations since its creation, the Mobile Engineering Center has quickly grown into a major part of the worldwide engineering network for EADS’ Airbus business unit.

The facility’s initial focus was to support Airbus design for cabin components and cargo systems for the A350 commercial jetliner. Today, this center is involved in the production development, production engineering and post-production modification phases for all aircraft in Airbus' product line – including passenger and freighter versions of the A330.

Its location at Mobile’s Brookley Field is adjacent to the site chosen by EADS North America for assembly and outfitting of the KC-45 Tanker, which has been proposed as the U.S. Air Force’s new-generation aerial refueling platform by a Northrop Grumman-led industrial team.