Cobham wins Body Fuel Tanks contract for USAF KC-46A
© Boeing
The Body Fuel Tanks enable KC-46A mission capability by providing additional fuel for offload and increased range. The engineering manufacturing development (EMD) phase began in January 2012, with low-rate and full-rate production through 2028.
The US Air Force (USAF) plans to initially acquire 179 KC-46A Tankers from Boeing, each of which is expected to carry a quantity of four each of the Cobham Body Fuel Tanks. Work will take place at Cobham Mission Equipment’s center of excellence in Davenport, Iowa. The Davenport facility is a leader in the aircraft fuel tank market and has been identified as a Principal Location under Cobham’s Excellence in Delivery Programme.
Iain Gibson, vice president of Cobham Mission Equipment said: “Cobham is delighted to be working with Boeing to support the KC-46 programme. Cobham’s experienced engineering and programme team will design and deliver an innovative Body Fuel Tank design that achieves the technical and schedule demands of the programme.”
Cobham is a key supplier to Boeing on several systems vital to the KC-46 programme. In July 2011 Cobham Mission Equipment at Davenport was also awarded two subcontracts by Boeing related to the hose and drogue aerial refueling system that will be used on the KC-46A tanker aircraft. The contracts relate to the EMD phase of the programme, including development hardware. Cobham expects to equip each aircraft with a centreline drogue system. Approximately 30 tankers will also be provided with a pair of wing-mounted aerial refueling pods.
