Nationwide Team to Provide Key Components For New Refueling
Aircraft
Boeing said Wednesday that it has put a team in place that will
provide key components for the U.S. Air Force's KC-46 Tanker. The
Air Force selected Boeing on Feb. 24 to replace 179 Eisenhower-era
KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft. "Delivering 18 combat-ready
tankers to the U.S. Air Force in 78 months is our priority as a
company, and it will take a talented, committed supplier team to
help get that done," said Maureen Dougherty, Boeing KC-46 vice
president and program manager. "We're fortunate to have a strong
defense industry team of domain experts working side-by-side to
provide a new generation of aerial refueling."
The KC-46 Tanker team will include more
than 800 suppliers in more than 40 states and support approximately
50,000 total U.S. jobs. Major suppliers include:
Cobham (Davenport, IA): Refueling systems, including wing
aerial refueling pods and centerline drogue system.
DRS Laurel Technologies Inc. (Johnstown, Pa): Aerial Refueling
Operator Station (AROS).
Eaton Aerospace: Electromechanical and cargo door actuation
systems (Grand Rapids, MI); hydraulic and fuel distribution
subcomponents (Jackson, MI)
GE Aviation Systems (Grand Rapids, MI; Clearwater, FL): Mission
control system.
Honeywell: Auxiliary power unit (Phoenix); cabin pressure
control system (Tucson, AZ), air data inertial navigation (Coon
Rapids, MN); lighting (Urbana, OH).
Moog Inc.: Electro-hydraulic servo valves, actuators, stabilize
trim controls, leading edge slat actuator, inboard/outboard leading
edge rotary actuators, autopilot actuators, elevator feel system
(East Aurora, NY; Wolverhampton, UK); refueling boom actuators
(Torrance, CA).
Northrop Grumman (Rolling Meadows, IL): Large Aircraft Infrared
Countermeasures (LAIRCM).
Parker Aerospace (Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia,
Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Utah):
Refueling components including the receptacle door actuator, aerial
refueling interface control system, and wing refueling pod
hydraulic power packs; primary flight controls and fuel equipment;
pneumatic, fluid conveyance, and hydraulic equipment.
Pratt & Whitney (Middletown, CT): Engines.
Raytheon Company (El Segundo, CA): Digital radar warning
receiver and digital anti-jam receiver GPS.
Rockwell Collins (Cedar Rapids, IA): Integrated display system
featuring 15.1-inch diagonal crystal displays built on proven
technology from the commercial 787; tactical situational awareness
system; remote vision system 3-D and 2-D technology for the boom
operator; communications, navigation, surveillance, networking and
flight control systems.
Spirit: Forward fuselage section; strut; nacelle components to
include inlet, fan cowl and core cowl; fixed fan duct (Wichita,
KS); fixed leading edge (Prestwick, Scotland).
Triumph Group Inc.: Horizontal stabilizer and aft body section,
including pressure bulkhead; wing center section, doors, nacelles
and other components including cowl doors, seal depressor panels,
acoustic panels and aft wheel well bulkhead.
Woodward Inc. (Skokie, IL): Several elements of the aerial
refueling boom, including the sensor system, control unit, and
telescopic and flight control sticks.
Based on the proven Boeing 767-200ER
commercial aircraft, the KC-46 is powered by two Pratt &
Whitney PW4062 engines and will be flown by three aircrew members
(pilot, co-pilot, boom operator) with additional permanent seating
for 12 aircrew. Boeing plans to build the KC-46 Tanker using a
low-risk approach to manufacturing by a trained and experienced
workforce at existing facilities in Everett, WA, and Wichita,
KS.
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