Graham Warwick/ATLANTA
LOCKHEED MARTIN is looking for partners to develop a multi-purpose large aircraft to replace Boeing KC-135 tankers, Lockheed C-141 transports and tanker/transports such as the Lockheed TriStar and McDonnell Douglas KC-10.
The aircraft, dubbed the "World Airlifter", would also be offered as a commercial freighter, and for missions including airborne early warning and battlefield surveillance, says executive vice-president Al Hansen.
The project has been under way for a year, and the company wants the aircraft to be available by 2007-2010, when the US Air Force plans to begin replacing its KC-135s. "That is our first opportunity for a large buy," says Hansen, who adds that the USAF has identified a requirement to replace its Boeing tankers.
Development of the World Air-lifter would be a private venture, modeled on the $600 million investment by Lockheed Martin and its suppliers in development of the upgraded C-130J Hercules 2 transport. The company is looking for "two-to-three" international partners, to form an industry joint venture to develop the aircraft. Discussions have been held with potential partners, Hansen says.
Lockheed Martin is believed to have had exploratory talks with several companies, including Aerospatiale and British Aerospace (Flight International, 14-21 February, P4).
"We are trying to develop the first real multi-purpose aircraft," he says. Details of the design are sketchy, but the World Air-lifter will be powered by two turbofans of "100,000lb [445kN]-plus" thrust, Hansen reveals. The cargo compartment will be, larger than that of the C-141.
Both high- and low-wing designs are being studied, with high wing best suited for a roll-on/roll-off military transport, while a low-wing design is better for a commercial freighter.
"The key is that it will be a multi-purpose aircraft. Customers cannot afford a niche aircraft," Hansen emphasises. "The success of the C-130 is that it is a multi-purpose aircraft," he points out.
See Defence, P16.
Source: Flight International
