PETER LA FRANCHI / CANBERRA
Airbus and Boeing are the main bidders for the tanker requirement, with new-build aircraft favoured
Australia plans to launch a competition for four tanker aircraft in January with the first required to enter service by December 2006.
The tender will include options on a fifth aircraft, an upper deck cargo door to give the aircraft a dual role as freighters, and an electronic warfare suite common with the Royal Australian Air Force's Boeing Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft.
The draft bid documents were released by the Australian Defence Materiel Organisation last week for industry comment, with the tender to close in April 2003 and selection planned for mid-year. Contract signature should be in early 2004 with all aircraft in operational service by December 2008.
Although the government has earmarked A$1.7 billion ($942 million) in the May 2003 defence budget, final approval is required before the project can start.
The new tankers are to have probe-and-drogue and boom refuelling equipment. The draft tender calls for the ability to offload 54,500kg (120,000lb) of fuel up to 1,665km (900nm) from base, and remain on station at that range for 90min. At 740km, the requirement is to deliver 65,375kg of fuel while remaining on station for 90min.
The draft expresses a clear preference for new-build tankers, but says converted near-new aircraft will also be considered if they comply with all requirements. The two main contenders for the tender are Airbus, which is expected to announce this week whether it will offer an A310or an A330 platform, and Boeing, offering its 767 Tanker-Transport.
The new tankers will support the RAAF's BAE Systems Hawk 127s, Boeing F/A-18s, General Dynamics F-111s, Lockheed Martin C-130Js, and the Wedgetails. The RAAF's Boeing 707s are restricted to refuelling the F/A-18s.
The new tankers are expected to have a 20- to 30-year service life. Plans for an interim leased fleet to replace the 707s were abandoned last year due to costs and a 707 life extension project has since been carried out by Boeing Australia.
Source: Flight International
