Raytheon is negotiating with British Aerospace to create a single team offering Airbus aircraft for the UK Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) requirement.
BAe is a partner in Airbus Industrie and Raytheon has an exclusive deal with the four-nation consortium to use its aircraft as platforms for airborne early warning programmes and as tankers.
Raytheon International marketing manager Paul Simpson says the number of aircraft required by the Royal Air Force's depends on the outcome of studies following the release of an invitation to submit outline proposals to several contenders earlier this month. A decision is also reliant on whether the A310, A330, or a mix of both is offered and the potential volume of third party work. Around 20-25 aircraft is the likely outcome.
Raytheon is already participating in the conversion of German air force A310s from multirole transports to multirole tanker transports, which will give the company experience of militarising Airbus platforms.
Initial aircraft conversions will be at Raytheon's Greenville, Texas, factory, but later aircraft will be modified in Europe. Options, include modifying them at BAe Aviation Services, or building the aircraft as tankers on the Airbus production line in Toulouse.
The aircraft are specified as three-point tankers by the UK, with a hose unit under each wing and one under the rear fuselage. A US Air Force-style flying boom has also been discussed as it would allow the aircraft to refuel non-probe equipped aircraft such as Lockheed Martin F-16s.
Third party revenue would not necessarily be dependent on the aircraft's use as a tanker, says Simpson, as it will have some transport capability as part of the FSTA requirement.
The MoD requires proposals by mid-November and plans to shortlist contenders in the first half of next year. The first tanker is due to enter service in 2004.
Source: Flight International
