Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • Cobham supports Full Service Date achievement for RAF Voyager

Defence

Cobham supports Full Service Date achievement for RAF Voyager

On 30th September 2016 the AirTanker consortium, of which Cobham is a shareholder, reached the final milestone in the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) programme with the achievement of Full Service Date (FSD).

The FSTA project, which is the largest private funded defence project to date, includes a 27-year contract through to 2035 that covers the delivery of aircraft as well as the associated infrastructure, service and support.  Cobham, which has provided its air-to-air refuelling equipment for the aircraft, will be maintaining these systems on the Wing and in the Fuselage of the Voyager for the duration of the contract. 

Advertisement
ODU RT

Alan Ephgrave, Vice President at Cobham Mission Systems in Wimborne said “When we stand back and take stock of what has been achieved it is truly magnificent.  Working alongside our colleagues within AirTanker Services Ltd to deliver such outstanding capability to the RAF is ground-breaking and we are very proud of the role played by Cobham in helping deliver this.”


Courtesy Cobham © Geoffrey Lee

The final aircraft, FSTA 14, arrived at RAF Brize Norton in July 2016, completing the aircraft delivery requirements of the FSTA Contract.  The fleet of nine core and five surge aircraft, operate in both the military and civil leasing sectors. 

Phill Blundell, CEO AirTanker Ltd, said: "Today is a landmark date for everyone involved in the Voyager programme. Following the contract award to AirTanker by the Ministry of Defence in 2008, the whole AirTanker team has worked tirelessly together with our industry partners and RAF colleagues to deliver this vital capability. The fact that we have done so on time and on budget is testament to that teamwork and commitment." 

Advertisement
Leonardo animated rectangle

 

 

Advertisement
Babcock LB Babcock LB
STS Defence awarded SDA contract for SCHM Phase 2

Defence

STS Defence awarded SDA contract for SCHM Phase 2

18 December 2025

STS Defence has been awarded a contract to further develop and demonstrate software algorithms for the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), following on from a previous Phase 1 project investigating Sensor Channel Health Monitoring (SCHM).

ESS and Royal Navy win Institute for Collaborative Working’s Chairman’s Award

Defence Events

ESS and Royal Navy win Institute for Collaborative Working’s Chairman’s Award

17 December 2025

Specialist provider of Facilities Management (FM) and foodservice to military establishments across the UK, ESS Defence, together with the Royal Navy, have won this year’s Institute for Collaborative Working Chairman’s Award.

First Jackal 3 Extenda models roll off Babcock production line

Defence

First Jackal 3 Extenda models roll off Babcock production line

17 December 2025

Babcock has reached a landmark milestone in the Jackal 3 programme, as the first all-terrain vehicles - from the second tranche - roll off its production line in Devonport.

Midlands manufacturers launch VORS

Aerospace Defence

Midlands manufacturers launch VORS

17 December 2025

Three Midlands manufacturing and design specialists - outsourcing expert PP Control & Automation (PP C&A), electronics design and software developer ByteSnap Design and contract electronics manufacturer Kasdonare - have joined forces to launch VORS (Versatile Outsourcing in Resilient Systems).

Advertisement
Leonardo animated rectangle
Aviation Minister views engine inspection tech at GE Aerospace Filton

Aerospace Defence

Aviation Minister views engine inspection tech at GE Aerospace Filton

16 December 2025

Aviation Minister Keir Mather MP visited GE Aerospace’s Filton facility last week (Thursday 11th December) to see how UK-engineered artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are helping to transform aircraft engine inspection and reinforce Britain’s position as a global centre of advanced aviation services.

SEA to deliver KraitArray to Liquid Robotics for Wave Glider USV

Defence

SEA to deliver KraitArray to Liquid Robotics for Wave Glider USV

16 December 2025

SEA has been awarded a multimillion-pound contract to supply its advanced KraitArray undersea sensing technology to Liquid Robotics, for integration into the company’s Wave Glider uncrewed surface vehicle (USV).

Advertisement
ODU RT