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Northrop Grumman to Complete Tanker Airframes in 2009
(Wireless News Via Acquire Media NewsEdge)
Northrop Grumman Tanker team announced that all four initial tanker
System Design and Development (SDD) airframes are scheduled for final
assembly and initial flight testing by the end of 2009.
The first two SDD airframes have been built and flown, and are awaiting
modification to the tanker configuration.
"As we've always said, Northrop Grumman is ready now; and having all
four SDD airframes ready next year shows our commitment to the U.S. Air
Force, the Department of Defense and our Airmen who are currently
forced to fly 50-year-old tankers," said Paul Meyer, Northrop Grumman
vice president and general manager of Air Mobility Systems. "While our
competitor still has not built the tanker or boom system they offered
-- our configuration is built, tested and flying now -- and has been
selected by four other allied nations. Clearly our tanker is superior,
offering better fuel efficiency, greater fuel offload and much lower
risk. It's won all five competitions against the 767."
The first SDD airframe completed final assembly and conducted first
flight in 2007, while the second KC-45 airframe performed first flight
in May. The initial KC-45 contract calls for four SDD aircraft before
transitioning to Initial Low Rate Production.
"New tankers are needed now, and our team is ready now," Meyer said.
"The Air Force selected the KC-45, the only system that is ready to
replace the aging tanker fleet and ensure our Airmen have the very best
tanker available -- and we're confident we will be selected again."
While other companies continue to move manufacturing offshore, Northrop
Grumman's tanker assembly and modification approach reverses that
trend, creating 48,000 aerospace jobs in 49 states and bringing work
into the United States.
Northrop Grumman's tanker is based on the Royal Australian Air Force's
KC-30B Multi-role Tanker Transport, which is on schedule for delivery
in 2009. The United States is the fifth straight country to select the
A330-based tanker.
((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))
((Distributed on behalf of 10Meters via M2 Communications Ltd -
http://www.m2.com))
((10Meters - http://www.10meters.com))
Copyright ? 2008 Wireless News
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