Tue, Mar 13, 2007
Will Supply Engines If Plane Is Chosen For KC-X Contract
The players for a lucrative Air Force tanker bid are waiting.
Boeing tell ANN the American planemaker has reached an agreement
with Pratt & Whitney on price and terms under which it will
supply engines for the KC-767 tanker. As a result, Pratt &
Whitney becomes eligible to supply its PW4062 engines if Boeing is
awarded the US Air Force KC-X contract later this year.
That's a formidable if. While many analysts believe the
contract is Boeing's to lose against a team made up of Northrop
Grumman and EADS, parent company of Boeing's European rival Airbus,
the A330-derived KC-30 Multi-Role Tanker Transport has garnered a number of orders
of late, from such customers at the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Boeing maintains the more narrowly-focused KC-767 is the best
answer to the USAF's needs -- and that the PW4062 is the best
answer for the KC-767.
"With more than 80 years of experience meeting the US Air
Force's engine needs, it makes sense to use Pratt & Whitney as
an engine provider for the next generation tanker," said Ron
Marcotte, vice president and general manager of Boeing Global
Mobility Systems. "This high-performance, extremely reliable engine
will allow future tanker aircrews to operate out of short-runway
airfields and provide them maximum fuel offload performance."
Boeing's agreement with Pratt & Whitney followed a
best-value competition that focused on engine technical
requirements like enhanced thrust and fuel efficiency, as well as
logistics support, acquisition and total ownership cost, management
and past performance factors. Pratt & Whitney's engines can be
found on many commercial airplanes -- including Boeing's 747-400
and 767 -- and various military aircraft like the C-17, F-15 and
KC-135.
"The Air Force needs the most capable, advanced engine to power
its KC-X Tanker, and the PW4062 answers that critical requirement,"
said William Begert, vice president, international programs and
business development, Pratt & Whitney. "We're proud to have
reached agreement with Boeing and eager to help win this
competition."
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