Northrop wins the KC-45A tanker contract

[dgates80]

Northrop Grumman wins the KC-45A tanker contract

Wow. $40 billion. Gotta be some NavAir jobs in there somewhere.

------excerpt----

Today, the U.S. Air Force announced that it has selected Northrop Grumman to provide the KC-45A aerial refueling tanker for the KC-135 tanker replacement program. This is a key strategic win for the corporation, positioning Northrop Grumman as a large-scale, prime aircraft provider to the Air Force.

Based on the highly successful A330 commercial jetliner produced by EADS, the Northrop Grumman KC-45A tanker will be a game changer.

The initial KC-45A contract calls for four System Design and Development aircraft and is valued at $1.5 billion, and that’s just the beginning. The potential value of the initial purchase of 179 tanker aircraft is $40 billion.
The first KC-45A airframe completed its first flight last September and will now begin military conversion to the tanker configuration. Few “experts” gave Northrop Grumman much of a chance to wrest the tanker program from its longtime incumbent.

February 29, 2008

 

[Bustem' Down]

Yeah, that's going to hurt Boeing.

 

[Rael]

Wow. $40 billion. Gotta be some NavAir jobs in there somewhere.

------excerpt----

Today, the U.S. Air Force announced that it has selected Northrop Grumman to provide the KC-45A aerial refueling tanker for the KC-135 tanker replacement program. This is a key strategic win for the corporation, positioning Northrop Grumman as a large-scale, prime aircraft provider to the Air Force.

Based on the highly successful A330 commercial jetliner produced by EADS, the Northrop Grumman KC-45A tanker will be a game changer.

The initial KC-45A contract calls for four System Design and Development aircraft and is valued at $1.5 billion, and that’s just the beginning. The potential value of the initial purchase of 179 tanker aircraft is $40 billion.
The first KC-45A airframe completed its first flight last September and will now begin military conversion to the tanker configuration. Few “experts” gave Northrop Grumman much of a chance to wrest the tanker program from its longtime incumbent.

February 29, 2008

Been reading about this ongoing issue for a while now, but didn't catch the final announcement. It's about time for a new tanker fleet.

 

[wmburdette]

Been reading about this ongoing issue for a while now, but didn't catch the final announcement. It's about time for a new tanker fleet.

It definitely is time but is it time for the Air Force Tanker Fleet to be totally dependent on EADS, a European consortium? ...or would it have been better to split the award and suffer a slight amount in the loss of commonality in airframe but diversify the risk? Just wondering.

 

[Dougstermd]

It definitely is time but is it time for the Air Force Tanker Fleet to be totally dependent on EADS, a European consortium? ...or would it have been better to split the award and suffer a slight amount in the loss of commonality in airframe but diversify the risk? Just wondering.

Don't be hatin on my company for sellin the guberment some airbus bullshiat.

 

[Rael]

It definitely is time but is it time for the Air Force Tanker Fleet to be totally dependent on EADS, a European consortium? ...or would it have been better to split the award and suffer a slight amount in the loss of commonality in airframe but diversify the risk? Just wondering.

Wish I had the answer to that, wmburdette. Honestly, the contracting world makes my head spin sometimes. I don't know the details on how (or the justifications on how) they do things, I'm just hoping they do it right, and on time, and on budget, etc. I can't believe it has taken this long to replace them.

 

[GWguy]

Wow. $40 billion. Gotta be some NavAir jobs in there somewhere.

------excerpt----

Today, the U.S. Air Force announced that it has selected Northrop Grumman to provide the KC-45A aerial refueling tanker for the KC-135 tanker replacement program. This is a key strategic win for the corporation, positioning Northrop Grumman as a large-scale, prime aircraft provider to the Air Force.

Based on the highly successful A330 commercial jetliner produced by EADS, the Northrop Grumman KC-45A tanker will be a game changer.

The initial KC-45A contract calls for four System Design and Development aircraft and is valued at $1.5 billion, and that’s just the beginning. The potential value of the initial purchase of 179 tanker aircraft is $40 billion.
The first KC-45A airframe completed its first flight last September and will now begin military conversion to the tanker configuration. Few “experts” gave Northrop Grumman much of a chance to wrest the tanker program from its longtime incumbent.

February 29, 2008

Don't you DARE forget the "Grumman" part of that Northrop Grumman in your title.......

 

[Gummie]

Just hope they do better than they did as lead contractor on the CoGard new cutters. The ones that are unseaworthy!

 

[desertrat]

Wow. $40 billion. Gotta be some NavAir jobs in there somewhere.

------excerpt----

Today, the U.S. Air Force announced that it has selected Northrop Grumman to provide the KC-45A aerial refueling tanker for the KC-135 tanker replacement program. This is a key strategic win for the corporation, positioning Northrop Grumman as a large-scale, prime aircraft provider to the Air Force.

Based on the highly successful A330 commercial jetliner produced by EADS, the Northrop Grumman KC-45A tanker will be a game changer.

The initial KC-45A contract calls for four System Design and Development aircraft and is valued at $1.5 billion, and that’s just the beginning. The potential value of the initial purchase of 179 tanker aircraft is $40 billion.
The first KC-45A airframe completed its first flight last September and will now begin military conversion to the tanker configuration. Few “experts” gave Northrop Grumman much of a chance to wrest the tanker program from its longtime incumbent.

February 29, 2008

That ticks me off. A contract that size, our tax dollars being in part sent over seas.

 

[RangerJohn]

That ticks me off. A contract that size, our tax dollars being in part sent over seas.

Of course BAE Systems is BRITISH AEROSPACE! Last I heard they were still headquartered over in England. SERCO is another large British Contractor that seems to have a large presence in the US as well. Although they do work in the US...their profits are sent overseas as well.

 

[Dougstermd]

You guys sweat this shiat too much. We will all get a piece of the pie. You need to see what percentage will be Domestic before you start crying foul. Oh nebermind Boeing is already Contesting the award

 

[High EGT]

Basically the reason given the contract to Airbus instead of Boeing is "Bigger is Better"

 

[High EGT]

Bigger is Better

Boeing KC-767
Length - 159 ft
Wingspan - 156 ft
Max Takeoff wt - 400,000 lbs
Passengers - Up to 190
Cargo - Up to 19 Pallets
Patients - Up to 97
Boom Offload - 6,800 lbs

Airbus KC-30
Length - 192 ft
Wingspan - 197 ft
Max Takeoff wt - 513,000 lbs
Passengers - Up to 226
Cargo - Up to 32 Pallets
Patients - Up to 126
Boom Offload - 8,000 lbs

 

[RadioPatrol]

It definitely is time but is it time for the Air Force Tanker Fleet to be totally dependent on EADS, a European consortium? ...or would it have been better to split the award and suffer a slight amount in the loss of commonality in airframe but diversify the risk? Just wondering.

Yeah I was wondering about this .... so we are dependent on the EU for part for our Air Force Tanker Fleet .......... seems kinda dumb to me

 

[Bruzilla]

I see it as the Pentagon spreading the wealth. Lockheed won the Joint Strike Fighter contract. Then when the MMA contract came out to replace the P-3, Boeing won that one and Lockheed lost (even though Lockheed should have won). So now it's Northrup-Grumman's turn at the trough. Boeing should have won that contract, but instead it went to NG. All of these companies need major contracts in order to survive.

 

[RadioPatrol]

I see it as the Pentagon spreading the wealth. Lockheed won the Joint Strike Fighter contract. Then when the MMA contract came out to replace the P-3, Boeing won that one and Lockheed lost (even though Lockheed should have won). So now it's Northrup-Grumman's turn at the trough. Boeing should have won that contract, but instead it went to NG. All of these companies need major contracts in order to survive.

Yeah ok .... but if I read correctly this is going to EADS ? an EU consortium ?

 

[FromTexas]

Yeah ok .... but if I read correctly this is going to EADS ? an EU consortium ?

Actually, it went a Northrop-EADs joint bid. The final airframe will be built in the United States in Alabama and most of the suppliers are US firms.

 

[RadioPatrol]

Actually, it went a Northrop-EADs joint bid. The final airframe will be built in the United States in Alabama and most of the suppliers are US firms.

Hmm ok

 

[flomaster]

Been following a few Airbus ontracts that have gone bust with UPS and Virgin. Don't expect Airbus will do much better this time either. The Europeans do things differently than we do and can't see how we can even get our needs done with all the export laws and crap we have to tangle with.

I understand the why part but the getting it done seems hardly worth it. Guess we will see how it goes.

 

[RadioPatrol]

The Europeans do things differently than we do and can't see how we can even get our needs done with all the export laws and crap we have to tangle with.

I understand the why part but the getting it done seems hardly worth it. Guess we will see how it goes.

the next unpopular war qwe are fighting Al - Q says Europe back off and do not supply spare parts or bases or we will bomb your Hospitals, Trains, Churches, Airports .... and the EU rolls over live Spain did .........