Northrop Grumman KC-45 Totally Explained

Everything about Northrop Grumman Kc-45 totally explained

The Northrop Grumman/EADS KC-45 is an aerial refueling tanker aircraft based on the Airbus A330 MRTT (KC-30), a derivative of the civil A330-200. The United States Air Force has ordered 179 KC-45As in the first stage of replacing the aging KC-135 tankers currently in service.

Development

KC-X program

In the late 1990s - early 2000s, the USAF decided to replace its fleet of KC-135s. Initially the first batch of replacement planes was to be an air tanker version of the Boeing 767; instead of outright purchase, as is the usual practice, the Air Force would lease them from Boeing. In January 2006, then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced the cancellation of the KC-767 contract. This followed public revelations of corruption in how the contract was awarded, as well as controversy regarding the original leasing rather than outright purchase agreement. Former USAF Procurement Officer Darleen Druyun and Boeing CFO Michael M. Sears were latter found guilty in the corruption scheme. Rumsfeld stated that this move would in no way impair the Air Force's ability to deliver the mission of the KC-767, which was to be accomplished by continuing upgrades to the KC-135 and KC-10 Extender fleet.
   In 2006, the USAF released a request for proposal (RFP) for a new tanker aircraft, known as the KC-X RFP, which was updated in January 2007 and was to be selected by 2007. KC-X is the first phase of three acquisition programs to replace the KC-135 fleet.
   On 29 February 2008, the Department of Defense announced that it had selected the Northrop Grumman "KC-30" (designated the KC-45A by the USAF) over the Boeing KC-767 for the first stage of the program.
   As the winner of the Air Force contract, Northrop Grumman and EADS (the airframe subcontractor) is expected to invest approximately US$600 million in a new assembly plant in the United States, currently planned for the Brookley Complex in Mobile, Alabama. On 11 March 2008, Boeing filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for the award of the contract to Northrop Grumman. Since the filing of the protest, Northrop Grumman and Boeing both started ongoing media campaigns in support of their tanker aircraft.

Into production

Final assembly of the initial KC-30 tanker platform, which is known as SDD-1, began at the Airbus final assembly line in Toulouse, France in June 2007. By July the airframe sections had been completely spliced and the wing installed.
With the exception of the first four units which will be converted from passenger versions at EADS EFW in Dresden, Germany, Airbus will assemble the aircraft in Mobile, Alabama, after which that'll be modified by Northrop Grumman. EADS has also announced plans to shift A330 commercial freighter assembly to Alabama.

Design

The A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) is a military derivative of the Airbus A330 airliner. It is designed as a dual-role air refueling tanker and cargo transport aircraft. The wing air refueling pods are supplied by the British company Cobham. The cargo hold has been modified by Telair to be able to transport military pallets in addition to civilian ULD.
The A330 has a large internal fuel capacity of 111,000 kg (122 short tons) in the wings; fuel capacity can be further increased with underfloor tanks, which wouldn't compromise main deck cargo capacity or seating in the strategic transport role. Standard fuel capacity allows the carriage of an additional 43,000 kg of cargo. Another major benefit of the A330 MRTT is the use of the same wing as the four engined A340-200/-300. This allows the A330 MRTT to use the two extra hardpoints of the A340 wing for the placement of refueling pods instead of the A340's two outer engines.

Specifications

Note: specifications denoted with a "*" came from the A330.

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