The skin of the second KC-46A boom being loaded into a jig at Boeing's boom assembly centre in Seattle, US. Photo: courtesy of Boeing

5 September 2013 airforce-technology.com

The US Air Force's (USAF) KC-46A aerial refuelling tanker development programme has moved ahead with the start of assembly of the second refuelling boom at Boeing's facility in Seattle, US.

Once assembled, the refuelling boom is scheduled to be mounted on a test aircraft for further validation of its design.

Boeing is currently manufacturing five test booms, of which the first will be utilised for risk-reducing laboratory tests at a System Integration Lab (SIL), also called as SIL 0, in early 2014.

Boeing KC-46 vice-president and programme manager Maureen Dougherty said the KC-46 boom is based on the proven KC-10 tanker's boom, which has performed extremely well in 30 years of its operation.

"Our team is achieving significant milestones as we prepare for flight tests to begin, and we remain focused on delivering this capability on schedule,'' Dougherty said.

Manufactured at KC-46 Boom Assembly Center at Boeing Field in Seattle, the modernised fly-by-wire boom is expected to provide KC-46 tanker with advanced refuelling capabilities, enabling it to refuel any fixed-wing receiver aircraft anytime and on any mission.

Developed from Boeing's 767-200ER, KC-46A is a military aerial refuelling and strategic transport aircraft designed to replace the USAF's ageing KC-135 Stratotankers fleet, which has served as its primary refuelling aircraft for more than 50 years.

Boeing is currently under contract to deliver 18 KC-46 refuelling aircraft by 2017 to the USAF, which is planning to acquire a total of 179 tankers by 2027.

An initial test flight of the fully-equipped KC-46A tanker is planned for early 2015, while delivery will take place in 2016.

16.08.2013 Photographer: PO(Phot) Ray Jones - UK MoD

HMS Illustrious met up with the FS Somme today, a tanker from the French Navy, to conduct a Replenishment At Sea (RAS). This is where two ships sail at extremely close quarters, pass lines between the two of them, and then pump fuel across. Even though Lusty only sailed a few days ago, it is always prudent to take the opportunity to top up the tanks when possible. This was also a useful training evolution for both ships companies, and once again demonstrated interoperability between the Royal Navy and the French Navy.

HMS Illustrious is currently deployed on Cougar 13. Cougar is the annual deployment of the UK Armed Forces Maritime Response Force Task Group to the Mediterranean and East of Suez. The deployment serves to protect the free, safe and lawful use of the sea and to promote UK interests by developing international partnerships. Cougar allows the UK’s maritime assets to exercise with multinational forces in the Gulf region, enhancing our interoperability.

03/06 Par Alain Ruello - LesEchos.fr

L'assemblage du premier dérivé militaire du 767 démarrera le 26 juin.

Février 2011. Après une bataille politico-commerciale épique, Boeing arrache - de manière définitive - le mégacontrat des avions ravitailleurs du Pentagone à EADS. Le montant estimé donne le vertige : plus de 30 milliards de dollars. Vingt-sept mois plus tard, le groupe s'apprête à enclencher une phase clef du programme, baptisé KC46. Le 26 juin, dans la foulée du salon du Bourget, l'avionneur américain va démarrer l'assemblage du premier des 179 exemplaires, le premier vol restant programmé pour début 2015 et le début des livraisons, l'année suivante.

Un calendrier très serré

« A ce stade nous sommes en phase avec le planning », assurait il y a quelques jours Jake Howitt, le responsable adjoint du programme, à Seattle, d'où sortiront ces dérivés militaires du Boeing 767. L'enjeu est de taille car Boeing a pris le risque de signer un contrat à prix fixe pour la conception, les tests et la livraison de 4 premiers ravitailleurs d'ici à 2017. Si le constructeur respecte ses échéances, le Pentagone transformera en commande ferme les options à prix fixe prévues pour les 175 autres appareils. La dernière livraison est prévue en 2027 au plus tard.

L'attention des ingénieurs est tout entière accaparée par la fin de la phase de développement, prévue au troisième trimestre. Le calendrier étant très serré, les responsables de Boeing veulent prendre le moins de risques possible. D'autant que le contrat passé avec l'Italie a laissé des traces, du fait des problèmes rencontrés avec la perche de ravitaillement. Le KC46 ne sera pas un bijou d'innovation, la plupart des équipements existent déjà. « Pour la grande majorité de l'appareil, nous n'inventons rien », résume Jake Howitt.

Si Boeing assure être en phase avec son planning, qu'en est-il du budget ? Tout en reconnaissant sa défaite, EADS avait affirmé à l'époque que jamais Boeing ne pourrait dégager de profit sur ce contrat. Interrogé à ce sujet, Jake Howitt confesse sobrement : « Nous n'anticipons pas un grand retour sur investissement » sur la tranche ferme du contrat signée, dit-il. Avant de se montrer plus explicite : Boeing perdra de l'argent sur cette phase (déjà 700 millions selon des estimations qui couraient mi-2011, chiffre non confirmé officiellement), mais prévoit toujours d'en gagner sur l'ensemble du programme. En clair, une fois les 179 exemplaires prévus livrés à l'armée de l'air américaine.

D'ici là, le KC46 pourra améliorer ses marges grâce aux ventes à l'international, où il se mesure à l'A330 MRTT d'Airbus. Au total, Boeing évalue le marché potentiel entre 25 à 50 appareils. Ce chiffre, qui porte sur les dix prochaines années, peut paraître faible, mais il est vrai que de nombreux pays sont déjà équipés en avions ravitailleurs.

#Czech #Gripens Train with German #AirForce #Tanker - #Europe #Défense #Defence @bundeswehrRSS http://t.co/GvOh7fa0HP

RP Defense (@RPDefense)April 16, 2013

July 6, 2012 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Alenia Aermacchi; issued July 5, 2012)

C-27J: Positive Tests for the Fight-Refueling with the KC-767A Tanker

TURIN, Italy --- The C-27J is carrying out flight-refueling tests with the KC-767A tanker at the Italian Air Force Base in Pratica di Mare with the collaboration of the 14th Stormo of the Italian Air Force, Alenia Aermacchi, Rolls Royce and Dowty, the latter two responsible respectively for the engines and propellers of the aircraft.

After a series of ground test that did not present any complications, the flight test conducted had the C-27J perform a series of contacts with the KC-767 at various altitudes between 10.000 and 20.000 ft. and speeds up to and near 220 kts, including night flight-refueling with the aid of Night Vision Goggles; in turning pattern, in turbulence and during an emergency decent.

The preliminary results highlighted the exceptional flying quality of the C-27J, in both the day and night contacts. The test confirmed the high capability of fuel transfer (up to 2800 liters\min) predicted in the planning phase, allowing for a complete replenishment of the tanks in only 5 minutes.

Also confirmed during these test was the superior quality of the C-27J as an aircraft receiver also in conditions of slipstream turbulence generated by the tanker.

An aircraft piloted by Alenia Aermacchi test pilots was used for these tests, modified with the integration of a complex instrumentation dedicated to controlling the engine parameters, propellers, transfer of fuel and flight controls, in order to meet the requirements requested by the military certification.

The objective of these tests was to achieve the certification of the flight-refueling system, that so far has been adopted on the 12 C-27Js in service in Italy and on one of the three units in service with the Lithuanian Air Force.