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The Boeing KC-767 is a military aerial refueling and strategic transport aircraft developed from the Boeing 767-200. The tanker received the designation KC-767A in 2002[1] after being selected by the US Air Force initially to replace older KC-135Es.[2] In December 2003, the contract was frozen and later canceled due to corruption allegations. The tanker is currently being developed for use by the Italian and Japanese air forces, who have ordered four tankers each.[3] Financing of the development of the aircraft, over $1 billion, has been borne by Boeing, in that it hoped to get major orders from the U.S. Air Force.[4] For the KC-X competition, Boeing offered a KC-767 based on the forthcoming 767-200 Long Range Freighter. In February 2008 the DoD selected Northrop Grumman/EADS's KC-30 offering, now officially designated the KC-45A.[5] The Boeing Company submitted a protest to the Air Force's decision on 11 March 2008.[6] The United States Government Accountability Office upheld their protest on 18 June, placing the status of the KC-45A in doubt and allowing for a rebid of the contract by Boeing.[6] However in September 2008, the KC-X bidding was canceled.[7] In September 2009, the USAF announced it would again start the bidding process for the new refueler.[8]
[edit] History[edit] Commercial Derivative Air Refueling AircraftThe U.S. Air Force (USAF) ran a procurement program to replace around 100 of its oldest KC-135E Stratotankers, part of the "Commercial Derivative Air Refueling Aircraft" program. Most USAF KC-135s are of the updated KC-135R variant. On 28 March 2002, the Air Force selected Boeing's KC-767 stating they "have clearly demonstrated that only the Boeing Corp. can currently meet the requirements".[2] The USAF was listed as giving four main reasons for this selection of the KC-767 over Airbus's KC-330 (aircraft's name at the time).[2]
The Boeing tanker received the KC-767A designation from the DoD in 2002 and appearing in the 2004 addition of DoD Model Designation report.[1] [edit] USAF lease and cancellationFor its Commercial Derivative Air Refuelling Aircraft program, the U.S. Air Force decided to lease around 100 KC-767 tankers from Boeing after it won the selection process.[9] Despite many other nations engaging in leased aircraft, there was some criticism. U.S. Senator John McCain questioned whether it is really cost-effective for the USAF to lease aircraft at all, particularly as the aircraft would probably not have many, if any, buyers when their military service was concluded. This was derided as an uninformed criticism, as there were many U.S. allies in need of tanker aircraft. The Congressional Budget Office has also criticized the draft leasing agreement as fiscally irresponsible. In November 2003, a compromise was struck where the Air Force would purchase 80 KC-767 aircraft and lease 20 more.[10][11] In December 2003, the Pentagon announced the project was to be frozen while an investigation of allegations of corruption by one if its former procurement staffers, Darleen Druyun (who had moved to Boeing in January) was begun. Some documents found in congressional investigation indicated the A330-based tanker met more of the USAF specifications than the Boeing tanker and had a lower proposed cost.[12][13][verification needed] Druyun pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine months in jail for "negotiating a job with Boeing at the same time she was involved in contracts with the company".[14] Additional fallout included the resignation of Boeing CEO Philip M. Condit and the termination of CFO Michael M. Sears. In January 2006, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced the cancellation of the Air Force's KC-767A lease. This was designed as a cost cutting measure and as part of a larger reorganization and redefinition of the Air Force's mission which included the retirement of the E-4B fleet, the cancellation of the 767-based E-10 program, as well as the elimination of all but 58 B-52s. Rumsfeld stated that this move will in no way impair the Air Force's ability to deliver the mission of the KC-767A which will be accomplished by continuing upgrades to the KC-135 and KC-10 fleets. Boeing's development of the aircraft for other customers was unaffected by the cancellation however. [edit] International programs[edit] Italian Air ForceBoeing continued development of the aircraft. Italy selected the KC-767A and signed a contract in 2002 becoming the launch customer, with delivery set for 2005. The Italian Air Force ordered four aircraft. This version is based on the 767-200ER and is named the KC-767 Tanker Transport, and is fitted with boom and hose-drogue refueling systems on the centerline with hose-drogue wingpod systems.[15] However, to date, none of the four aircraft ordered have been delivered to the Italian air force due to ongoing problems with their in flight refueling equipment (mainly wings flutter).[16][17] [edit] Japan Self-Defense ForcesIn 2001, Japan selected the KC-767 over a tanker version of the Airbus A310 and signed a contract in 2003.[18] The Japan Self-Defense Forces ordered four aircraft and has designated the tanker KC-767J. Delivery of the first KC-767J for the JASDF was delayed approximately two years due to development issues and the addition of the aircraft receiving FAA certification. The Japanese version of the tanker is equipped only with the boom refueling system. Boeing and its Japanese representative Itochu agreed with Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD) to pay a penalty fee for the delivery delay, according to the MoD Statement.[19][20] The first operational KC-767A was delivered to Japan on 19 February 2008,[21] with the second KC-767 following on 5 March.[22] The third KC-767 was delivered to the JASDF in March 2009. The three KC-767J aircraft reached initial operational capability (IOC) status with the JASDF in May 2009. The fourth tanker is planned to be delivered in early 2010.[23] [edit] OthersAustralia selected the Airbus A330 MRTT in April 2004 after competition with the KC-767 due the A330's larger fuel and cargo capability.[24] Boeing, teamed with BAE Systems and British Airways, offered the KC-767 to the UK's RAF for its Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft. The companies formed the Tanker Transport Services Consortium (TTSC). British Airways would provide the 767 aircraft. Boeing would provide the conversion technology based on its KC-767 tanker design. BAE Systems would perform the majority of aircraft modifications. Marshall Aerospace, Serco, Spectrum, and Capital were also part of TTSC. The Ministry of Defence announced in January 2004 that it had selected the Airbus A330 MRTT to fulfill this requirement.[25] [edit] USAF KC-X ProgramMain article: KC-X In 2006 the USAF released a request for proposal (RFP) for a new tanker program, KC-X, to be selected by 2007. Boeing had also announced it may enter an even higher capability tanker based on the Boeing 777, currently named the KC-777 Strategic Tanker. Airbus has partnered with Northrop Grumman to offer the Airbus A330 MRTT, the tanker version of the A330, which was being marketed to the USAF under the unofficial designation of KC-30.[26] In late January 2007 the USAF issued the KC-X Aerial Refueling Aircraft Request for Proposal. The RFP calls for 179 (4 system development and demonstration and 175 production) tankers, worth an estimated US$40 billion.[27] However, Northrop and EADS expressed their displeasure at how the RFP was structured and have threatened to withdraw, leaving only Boeing to offer an aircraft.[28] On 12 February 2007, Boeing announced it is offering the KC-767 Advanced Tanker in the KC-X Tanker competition.[29] Boeing stated for KC-X's requirements, the KC-767 was a better fit than the KC-777.[30] On 11 April 2007, Boeing submitted its KC-767 tanker proposal to U.S. Air Force.[31] In September 2007, the USAF rejected having a mixed fleet new tankers from both Boeing and Northrop Grumman as being unfeasible because of increased costs in buying limited numbers of two types annually.[32] Boeing submitted the final version of its proposal on 3 January 2008.[33] On 29 February 2008, the DoD chose the Northrop Grumman/EADS KC-30, now officially designated the KC-45A, over the KC-767.[5] Boeing submitted a protest to the United States Government Accountability Office on 11 March 2008 and began waging a fierce public relations campaign in support of their protest.[6] On 18 June, following a series of admissions by the Air Force on the flaws in the bidding process, the GAO upheld Boeing's protest and recommended the contract be rebid.[6] On 9 July 2008, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that the Air Force would reopen bidding on the tanker contract.[34] Secretary Gates put the contract for the KC-45 into an "expedited recompetition" with Defense Undersecretary John Young in charge of the selection process instead of the Air Force.[35] A draft of the revised RFP was provided to the contractors on 6 August 2008 for comments. By mid-august the revised RFP was to be finalized.[36] However, on 10 September 2008, the US Defense Department canceled the KC-X solicitation.[7] On 24 September 2009, the USAF began the first steps in the new round of bids, with a clearer set of criteria, including reducing the number of requirements from 800 to 373 in an attempt to simply the process and allow a more objective decision to be made.[8] [edit] Development of aircraft.jpg) Italy's aircraft became the first KC-767 to be assembled. The aircraft are initially built as 767-200ER commercial airplanes, then flown to a separate facility for conversion into tankers. Italy's first aircraft made its maiden flight on 21 May 2005,[37] and in June the same year, Japan's first aircraft arrived at Boeing's Wichita, Kansas modification center to be fitted out with the tanker equipment.[3] Italy's second aircraft arrived for modification at the Naples, Italy facility of Boeing's partner, Aeronavali on 6 May 2005.[38] On 23 January 2007, the KC-767 flight test aircraft set a program milestone by making its first hookup with a receiver aircraft, a B-52 Stratofortress. The "dry contact" transferred no fuel, but was intended to test the tanker's fifth-generation fly-by-wire telescoping boom. Unlike the KC-135 boom operator, who is prone, the KC-767 operator uses a remote station with a video display. The testing is being done at Edwards Air Force Base, and the test aircraft is destined for Italy once testing is complete.[4] The KC-767 extended its air refueling boom and transferred fuel to another aircraft for the first time on 5 March 2007.[39] The tanker completed another test milestone on 12 April 2007 when its aircrew successfully extended and retracted both wing refueling hoses.[40] Flight testing has resumed on Japan's tanker after modifications were completed.[41] In November 2007, Boeing decided to shift modification work on the KC-767A tankers for Italy and Japan from subcontractor Aeronavali's facility in Italy to Boeing's Wichita facility in an effort to meet delivery schedules.[42] The KC-767 Advanced Tanker originally offered for the KC-X competition was based on the in-development 767-200LRF (Long Range Freighter), rather than the -200ER that the Italian and Japanese aircraft are based.[43] This differed from the Japanese and Italian tankers, by combining the -200ER fuselage, -300F wing, gear and cargo door and floor, -400ER digital flightdeck and flaps, uprated engines and "sixth-generation" boom.[44] [edit] SpecificationsSpecifications for KC-767A Tanker Transport (767-200ER based), except for KC-767 Advanced Tanker (767-200LRF based) data at bottom. Data from KC-767A,[45] KC-767 Advanced[46] Boeing 767-200ER specifications[47] General characteristics
Performance
[edit] See alsoRelated development Comparable aircraft [edit] References
[edit] External links
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