Boeing has fired the first shot in the highly contentious KC-X Tanker Replacement Program for the U.S. Air Force. Today the company announced that it will be offering the new Boeing NewGen Tanker for the contest, and will be based on a 767 commercial platform. There was talk of Boeing offering the much bigger 777 for its tanker solicitation, but today's announcement has squashed that idea. Aside from its main role as an aerial refueling tanker, the multi-mission aircraft will also be capable of transporting cargo and passengers. Boeing will officially deliver its tanker proposal to the U.S. Air Force by May 10. Here are some of the more important aspects about Boeing's new tanker:
* Digital flight deck taken directly from the 787 Dreamliner
* Electronic cockpit displays that are 75% larger than those on an
Airbus A330
* New-generation fly-by-wire refueling boom with an expanded
refueling envelope
* Unrestricted access by aircrews to the full flight envelope of the
aircraft in lieu of automated computer software that could
potentially limit combat manueverability
* Low-risk manufacturing process at existing Boeing facilities in the
states of Washington and Kansas
* 24% less fuel burn that the larger and heavier A330, translating to
more than $10 billion in fuel-costs over its 40-year service life
To see a video announcement of Boeing's NewGen Tanker, check out the link below.
NewGen Tanker Video
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