Airbus A330 Tanker Still Has Lots To Prove
Airbus A330 MRTT Finally Passes Fuel
Further Tests Remain Uncertain
Northrop Grumman Cries “Wolf”
After scathing criticism about the lack of progress on its tanker program, EADS announced that the model had for the first time successfully transferred fuel to an F-16 through its Aerial Refueling Boom System (ARBS) from a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) A330 MRTT.
Although the image accompanying the press release leaves much to be desired, (particularly as there is no A330 MRTT present in that image), the news from EADS is largely attributed to having “called Airbus out” almost two months ago (click) to either confirm that either the boom tests were still at the drawing board stage or indeed, that the boom did actually work.
Image courtesy of EADS
Only time will tell if this is the first of many tests before the year ends or if it is a one-off, ”ad-hoc” test to silence critics and sceptics, most notably from with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The RAAF is still “unhappy” about the additional weight needed to strengthen the A330 MRTT floor that has impacted the center of gravity on the airplane as well as its intended metrics for mission capability in active theatre.
All of this activity comes at a time when Northrop Grumman has been criticising both the US Air Force and Boeing over what it calls “fairness” of the controversial KC-X tanker competition, despite having been firmly reprimanded by by the Department of Defense.
“We have been very clear that this is an issue of fundamental fairness,” Randy Belote, spokesman for Northrop Grumman.
“We [have examined this claim and] found both that this disclosure [of pricing] was in accordance with regulation and, more importantly, that it created no competitive disadvantage because the data in question are inaccurate, outdated and not germane to this source-selection strategy,” said Undersecretary of Defense, Ashton Carter.
In response to the comments by Northrop, Boeing responded by saying:
“While our opponent and their supporters have begun attacking the U.S. Air Force and its KC-X Tanker draft Request for Proposal….Our preference is to allow the process to play out rather than work the requirements through the media. We will talk about the KC-X tanker competition when we’re ready and when it’s appropriate,” said Boeing spokesman Bill Barksdale.
Image courtesy of UnitedStatesTanker.com
Northrop has also been highly concerned by the impact of the soon to be released final ruling of the WTO litigation against Europe/Airbus.
The A330 has also been seen to benefit from illegal state aid and Northrop is concerned that the current US Administration, already heaviliy against the notion of state aid for commercial airplanes, will force the the USAF into having to factor in to the KC-X competition the level of competitive disdavantage to Boeing as a result of that aid awarded to Airbus. There is widespread belief that Northrop could “emerge exonerated” by leaving the competition under the “fairness” banner rather than run the risk of the DoD eliminating the A330 altogether.
Whatever the outcome, no moves will be made until the final KC-X RFP is issued to the competing parties.
In response to the draft RFP and because of the timescale involved for first delivery, Boeing will likely select the 767 platform for its tanker ahead of the 777.
Between now and then, the A330 has much to prove it is to be the winning solution for the US Air Force. By the same token, Boeing is by no means a clear cut winner - cast your minds back to last February when the same was said and you’ll see why.
Northrop should drop the charade that it wants to exit the competition, particularly as it wants to secure the near 50,000 jobs it claims would be made if it won the contract.
There’s still plenty to play for.
48 comments November 2nd, 2009
