The tussle to supply the next tranche of air-to-air refuelling tankers to the US Air Force is now well and truly underway, with both Boeing and Lockheed Martin confirming they will offer their products should the US Government decide to compete the program.
Under its KC-Y ‘bridging air tanker’ program, the US Air Force is looking to acquire between 140 and 160 additional long range/high offload tankers from 2029, to replace its ageing fleet of McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Extenders. Under the earlier KC-X program, the US Air Force is presently receiving 179 Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tankers, based on the commercial 767-200, to replace its elderly KC-135R Stratotanker force. To date, Boeing has delivered 55 KC-46As to the US Air Force and the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF).
Speaking in Singapore on the eve of the Singapore 2022 Airshow, Boeing’s President and CEO of Defence and Space Leanne Carat confirmed Boeing will also offer the KC-46A as a KC-Y solution. The US Government is yet to announce whether it will sole-source a tanker or run an open competition.
“The US Government is still to make a determination about what they want to do next. My understanding is they have not made a decision yet, but if they choose to compete, we will be offering the KC-46. We believe that, based on their requirement set and their new timing there in needing those assets, the KC-46 is the only one that can meet those needs,” Carat said.
She also questioned the wisdom of having two different tankers in the fleet, something the US Air Force has done since the KC-10A entered service alongside the KC-135 in 1979.
“When you think about the financial burden a service would need to provide to introduce another fleet of tankers - financial, efficiency, capability, schedule - in terms of meeting their needs, financially, why would you burden the taxpayer with something like that?” she asked.
Boeing’s competitor for the KC-Y competition is Lockheed Martin which, in partnership with Airbus Defence and Space, unveiled its LMXT in September 2021. The LMXT is based on the ‘New Wave’ A330-200 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) and will feature the increased Maximum Take Off Weight (MTOW) of the ‘New Wave’ MRTT with an increase in fuel capacity of around 12 tonnes - taking the total to more than 123 tonnes.
Speaking at on 16 February at Singapore 2022, Airbus DS CEO Michael Schoellhorn also said the LMXT, which will be built in the US, is the only tanker that can meet USAF requirements.
“Cost is always a concern. If the requirements would fit to the KC-46 it would be the smartest decision to just continue KC-46, but if you look at the needs of the Air Force - in terms of range, fuel displacement, fuel offload and how many air bases you can connect to and the range of your operation - the KC-46 is limited, it cannot nearly as much as the LMXT,” he said. “So, then it becomes an apples or oranges-type thing and of course we need to be competitive and that’s what we’re working on with Lockheed Martin.”
Schoellhorn also provided more details of the LMXT design, saying that in order to meet the US Air Force’s timetable, initial aircraft will be completed in Spain while Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Mobile Alabama (production) and Marietta Georgia (completion) ramp up.
To accommodate the additional fuel, he revealed the LMXT will have little or no underfloor cargo capability. “It will be a tanker. There will be no cargo capability to speak of, it will be really dedicated [to the tanker role],” he explained.
Lockheed Martin will complete the LMXT to meet USAF requirements that it is also a ‘node’ in the connected battlespace. Schoellhorn said he is not privy to what equipment will be installed in the cabin, but the LMXT will not have the airline-style interior of the MRTT. He also said that while an engine selection is yet to be made, it will not be one of the new generation of engines fitted to Airbus’ newest commercial aircraft, but rather a powerplant currently offered on the MRTT.
Airbus DS is looking whether to move the MRTT from the current baseline A330-200 to the A330neo, but again Schoellhorn says this is unlikely for the LMXT.
“The thing that speaks against that now is the USAF timeline. They have deliberately stated they want a proven tanker and not another development project,” he said.
Schoellhorn also revealed that Airbus DS is in discussion with Australia about what the forecast KC-30A (a variant of the ‘Original Wave’ of MRTTs) upgrade might look like, but did not comment on whether the RAAF is looking to upgrade or replace its eight aircraft.
