EADS/Northrop Grumman KC-45
| Company type | Conceptual aircraft project |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, Defense |
| Predecessor | Airbus A330 MRTT |
| Founder | EADS, Northrop Grumman |
| Fate | Lost USAF contract to Boeing KC-46 Pegasus |
Area served | United States Air Force (intended) |
| Products | Aerial refueling tanker aircraft |
| Parent | EADS (now Airbus SE), Northrop Grumman |
The EADS/Northrop Grumman KC-45 was a conceptual aerial refueling tanker derived from the Airbus A330 MRTT. The United States Air Force (USAF) initially placed an order for 179 KC-45As intended to replace the older Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker models. Nevertheless, following Boeing’s successful protest, the procurement process was reopened in July 2008. On 8 March 2010, Northrop Grumman exited the competition, citing changes in requirements that appeared to favor Boeing. Subsequently, on 20 April 2010, EADS (now Airbus SE) reentered the contest with the KC-45. Ultimately, the USAF selected the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus.
Background
Beginning in the late 1990s, the USAF sought to replace its aging KC-135 fleet. Early plans involved leasing Boeing 767-200 tankers, which were preferred over Airbus A330-based alternatives. In January 2006, then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld canceled the KC-767 contract, explaining that mission readiness would be preserved by upgrading existing KC-135 and KC-10 Extender aircraft.
KC-X program
In 2006, the USAF issued a request for proposal (RFP) for a new tanker aircraft as part of the KC-X initiative aimed at replacing the KC-135. This RFP was revised in January 2007 with an anticipated award date set for later that year.
On 29 February 2008, the Department of Defense awarded Northrop Grumman’s version of the "KC-30", designated KC-45A, over Boeing’s KC-767 for the initial contract phase. Boeing challenged this decision by filing a protest with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), sparking a public dispute between the competitors.
The GAO upheld Boeing’s protest on 18 June 2008, citing flaws in how the USAF evaluated proposals. Following this, on 9 July 2008, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced an accelerated recompetition process, removing direct Air Force involvement from the award decision and appointing Defense Undersecretary John Young to oversee it. The original KC-X solicitation was canceled on 10 September 2008, with procurement funding planned for fiscal years 2010 through 2015.
The USAF reopened bidding in September 2009. Northrop Grumman withdrew in March 2010. Final proposals from EADS and Boeing were submitted on 10 February 2011, with Boeing ultimately winning the contract announced on 24 February 2011.
Production plans
The initial four aircraft were scheduled for conversion from passenger models at EADS EFW located in Dresden, Germany. Airbus intended to carry out the final assembly in Mobile, Alabama, with Northrop Grumman responsible for the modifications. Additionally, EADS planned to transfer the commercial freighter assembly of the A330 to Alabama. Following the award of the Air Force contract, Northrop Grumman and EADS aimed to invest approximately US$600 million in adjacent manufacturing facilities within the Brookley Complex.
However, after losing the contract, EADS ceased the Alabama A330 production line. Nevertheless, on 30 June 2012, EADS announced the establishment of a new facility in Mobile dedicated to producing the narrow-body Airbus A320, which commenced operations on 14 September 2015.
Design
The A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) represents a military adaptation of the Airbus A330 airliner, engineered for combined air refueling and cargo transport missions. The wing refueling pods are provided by British company Cobham, while modifications to the cargo compartment are carried out by Telair to support military pallets alongside standard civilian ULD configurations.
With a fuel storage capacity of 245,000 lb (111,000 kg) housed within wing and underfloor tanks, the MRTT preserves its main deck cargo space and seating arrangements. Utilizing a typical fuel load permits an additional cargo allowance of 43,000 kg. The wing structure shares commonality with that of the four-engine A340-200/-300, including reinforced attachment points for outboard engines, which facilitates minimal alterations when fitting wing refueling pods.
The KC-45 would be outfitted with an Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS), complemented by two Cobham 905E underwing refueling pods and one Cobham 805E Fuselage Refuelling Unit (FRU).
Specifications
Note: specifications indicated with "*" correspond to the A330.
|crew= 3 (pilot, copilot, boom operator) |capacity= 226 passengers |length ft=192 |length in=11 |length m=58.78 |span ft=197 |span in=10 |span m=60.28 |height ft=57 |height in=1 |height m=17.40 |wing area sqft=3892 |wing area sqm=361.6 |wing area note= * |empty weight lb= 265,657 |empty weight kg= 120,500 |empty weight note=* |max takeoff weight lb=507,063 |max takeoff weight kg=230,000 |max takeoff weight note=* |more general= *Maximum Fuel Capacity: 245,000 lb (111,000 kg)
- Non-fuel Payload: 104,000 lb (47,200 kg)
- Cargo: 32 pallets
|eng1 name=General Electric CF6-80E1 |eng1 type=turbofans |eng1 number=2 |eng1 lbf=72,000 |eng1 kn=316 |max speed kts=475 |max speed mph=547 |max speed kmh=880 |max speed note = * |cruise speed kts=464 |cruise speed mph=534 |cruise speed kmh=860 |cruise speed note=* |range nmi=6,750 |range miles=7,770 |range km=12,500 |range note=* |ceiling ft=41,000 |ceiling m=12,500 |ceiling note = *
External links
- Northrop Grumman KC-45 official site. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008.