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Northrop Grumman Forms World-Class
KC-30 Tanker Industry Team To Compete for U.S. Air Force
Tanker Replacement Program
MELBOURNE,
Fla. March 28, 2007 Northrop Grumman
Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has assembled a powerful industrial
team to produce the KC-30 Tanker air refueling aircraft
for the U.S. Air Force.
A
photo accompanying this release is available at: http://media.primezone.com/noc/
Were
extremely pleased with the team of world-class partners
weve assembled to build and integrate this highly
capable and versatile weapon system for the Air Force,
said Paul Meyer, Northrop Grummans vice president
of Air Mobility Systems and general manager of the KC-30
Tanker program. In addition to being the most
modern, capable tanker available, the KC-30 provides
the Air Force with flexibility to meet current and future
challenges.
Partner companies on Northrop Grummans KC-30 Tanker
program include EADS (European Aerospace Defence and
Space Company), GE Aviation, Sargent Fletcher, Honeywell,
Smiths Aerospace, Parker Aerospace, AAR Cargo Systems,
Telephonics Corporation and General Dynamics.
Northrop Grumman selected EADS as an exclusive partner
and principal subcontractor in September 2005. EADS
will provide the aircraftthe A330-200and
the air refueling boom system for the KC-30. Were
very proud to participate on the Northrop Grumman-led
KC-30 team, said John Young, president and CEO
of EADS North America Tankers. The A330-200 is
a proven platform, and combined with the EADS boom,
offers the U.S. Air Force a low risk solution to meet
its demanding refueling and multi-mission requirements.
Northrop Grumman conducted a rigorous downselect process
to choose the best engine at the lowest risk for the
KC-30. As a result of that process, Northrop Grumman
selected and consequently formed an exclusive partnership
with GE Aviation to provide the CF6-80E1 engine to power
the KC-30 Tanker. The highly reliable and efficient
CF6-80E1 engine has amassed more than 3.6 million flight
hours powering A330 aircraft.
Were
excited to be part of the KC-30 team and look forward
to leveraging our successful relationship with Northrop
Grumman on other programs, such as the B-2, said
Russ Sparks, president of GE Military Systems. The
CF6-80E1 engine is an excellent fit for the KC-30 and
its mission.
Northrop Grummans KC-30 Tanker carries 45,000
more pounds of fuel than a KC-135, providing a significant
boost to the U.S. Air Forces global reach. The
KC-30 is also designed to refuel Navy and coalition
aircraft, and to serve as a multi-role transport aircraft
to move passengers, cargo and medical evacuation patients.
The KC-30 incorporates defense systems, precision fly-by-wire
technology, and the ability to integrate a communications
suite and a global support network.
The KC-30 will be assembled in Mobile, Ala., and is
based on the highly reliable, commercial A330 aircraft.
The A330 platform was selected in the last three tanker
competitions to support the air forces of Australia,
the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.
The KC-30 will be Northrop Grummans entrant in
the U.S. Air Forces KC-135 Tanker Replacement
Program, KC-X. A final request for proposal for the
KC-X competition is expected in April, with contract
award targeted for the last quarter of 2007.
The
KC-30 Industry Team
EADS
A330-200 Aircraft and Air Refueling Boom System
Arlington,
Va.
EADS will supply the commercially superior A330-200
aircraft and aerial refueling boom system. The A330
is the leader in its class with 680 aircraft orders
to date and 456 aircraft in active service. Final assembly
of the KC-30 aircraft will take place in Mobile, Ala.
prior to being militarized in the adjacent Northrop
Grumman facility.
European Aerospace Defence and Space Company is the
worlds second largest defense company, with $48B
in annual revenues; currently one of the U.S. Department
of Homeland Securitys top ten U.S. contractors
and is the prime contractor on the U.S. Army UH-72A
Light Utility Helicopter program.
GE
Aviation - CF6-80E1 Engine
Evendale,
Ohio
GE Aviation is the exclusive supplier of the CF6-80E1
engine to power the KC-30 Tanker. The CF6 engine family
has a long history of high reliability, excellent fuel
burn and durability across numerous aircraft models.
GE engines currently power more than 80 percent of the
U.S. Air Force tanker fleet. GEs CF6 engine family
supports more than 250 customers around the globe, with
6,700 engines delivered to date. CF6 engines have amassed
more than 350 million flight hours.
Sargent
Fletcher Inc. Air Refueling Systems
El
Monte, Calif.
Sargent Fletcher Inc., U.S. Division of Cobham Plc,
brings 50 years of air refueling experience to a competition
where the primary mission is air refueling support.
As the world leader in air refueling capabilities, Sargent
Fletcher brings a combat proven, affordable and operationally
effective air refueling system to the KC-30 Tanker aircraft.
Their air refueling equipment is currently certified
and operating in combat today on the KC-135, KC-10,
KC-130J, MC-130H and F-18.
Honeywell
Radio Management System, Mission Avionics Suite
and Mechanical Systems
Albuquerque,
N.M.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Redmond, Wash. and Torrance, Calif.
Based in Phoenix, Honeywells aerospace business
is a leading global provider of integrated avionics,
engines, systems and service solutions for aircraft
manufacturers, airlines, business and general aviation,
military, space and airport operations.
Smiths
Aerospace Flight Management System
Grand
Rapids, Mich.
Smiths Aerospace is the preeminent supplier of military
flight management systems (FMS) and is the supplier
of choice for common Flight Management Systems for the
KC-X tanker, A330 Multi-role Tanker Transport (MRTT),
C-130AMP, E-4B, E-6B; the U.S. Navy's E-2D, P-8A (MMA)
and United Kingdom's MRA4 Nimrod. For 50 years, Smiths
has developed and supplied state-of-the-art avionics
systems to both military and commercial customers.
Parker
Aerospace - Air Refueling Receptacle
Irvine,
Calif.
Parker Aerospace will provide the KC-30 Tankers
Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle Slipway Installation
(UARRSI). Similar UARRSI systems are currently used
on the U.S. Air Forces A-7K, B-1B, C-141B, C-130,
C-17, and KC-10 aircraft.
With annual sales exceeding $9 billion, Parker Hannifin
is the world's leading diversified manufacturer of motion
and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered
solutions for a wide variety of commercial, mobile,
industrial and aerospace markets.
AAR
Cargo Systems Cargo Loading System
Livonia,
Mich. and Goldsboro, N.C.
AAR Cargo Systems specializes in the design and manufacture
of in-aircraft cargo loading systems and has been at
the forefront of innovative cargo handling and logistics
systems for commercial and military applications for
more than 40 years. AAR Cargo System customers include
package and heavy freight fleet operators, military
customers, original equipment manufacturers and aircraft
conversion shops.
AAR Cargo Loading Systems support the C-5, C-27J, C-141
and the C-130. AAR is also the premiere supplier for
all aircraft pallets.
Telephonics
Corporation - Intercommunication System
Farmingdale,
N.Y.
Telephonics Corporation, Communication Systems Division
is the world's leading supplier of secure intercommunication
systems for military aircraft programs. Telephonics
holds a large footprint within the U.S. Air Force community,
with digital open architecture intercommunication systems
on platforms such as the C-17A and E-8C Joint STARS.
Telephonics also supports modernization programs like
the C-130 Avionics Modernization Program and the B-52
Combat Network Technologies program.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $30 billion global
defense and technology company whose 122,000 employees
provide innovative systems, products, and solutions
in information and services, electronics, aerospace
and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers
worldwide.
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