KC-X, Next Generation Aerial Refueling Aircraft

Abstract

The Air Force completed an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) in Apr 2006 to determine the most appropriate strategy to recapitalize the aging fleet of KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft. Based on this analysis, the Air Force concluded that a strategy of full and open competition to select a commercial derivative replacement tanker aircraft would result in a best value tanker contract. Replacement of the legacy KC-135 fleet will take place in three stages, known as the KC-X, the KC-Y, and the KC-Z. The initial KC-X increment will replace roughly a third of the current capability with the purchase of 179 aircraft. On 24 Sep 2009 a draft Request For Proposal (RFP) was released which led to the final RFP release on 24 Feb 2010. The KC-X Program is currently in source selection. The KC-X will be able to provide fuel to joint and coalition receivers via a boom or drogue system on every mission and will also augment the airlift fleet with cargo, passenger and medical evacuation capabilities. The KC-X will be able to operate in day/night and adverse weather conditions to enable deployment, employment, sustainment and redeployment of U.S. joint, allied and coalition forces. The KC-X will have communication, navigation and surveillance equipment for world-wide operations; will have the capability to perform missions in chemical and biological environments; will have the capability to operate in low-to-medium threat areas and near-high threat areas with self-defense/protection (both active and passive) capabilities; and will have necessary battle space awareness to mitigate survivability threats. The KC-X development effort will also procure the necessary ground and flight test assets to support developmental/operational test. The program plans to procure four RDT&E aircraft for integration and demonstration of capability that will ultimately be operationally fielded after a successful operational test phase. In addition, both aircrew and maintenance Training System Requirements Analyses (TSRA) are being conducted to determine training requirements. Aircrew and Maintenance training systems will be developed and procured via a future trainer-specific source selection, using KC-X funding. A Business Case Analysis will also be conducted to determine if the engines for the production aircraft will be Government Furnished or Contractor Furnished. Initial training and sustainment efforts will be provided via Interim Contractor Support (ICS). KC-X funding will also support various studies and analyses including the five-nation Future Technology for Aerial Refueling (FTAR) project, and KC-Y/KC-Z planning activities. This program is in Budget Activity 05, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) because after Milestone B, it will be conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full-rate production.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2012
• Source ID: 0605221F_5_3600_PB_2012
• Change Summary Explanation: The FY 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill reduced $132.9M in RDT&E, moved $291.715M of FY 2010 RDT&E into the Tanker Replacement Transfer Fund (TRTF), and left $15.0M in RDT&E to support program office & source selection activities. The Tanker Replacement Transfer Fund amount of $291.615M will be used as FY 2010 RDT&E in FY 2011 per SECAF Memo to Congress dated 2 Nov 2010. Funds completed transfer on 6 Jan 2011. The KC-X program entered source selection on 9 Jul 2010 and is planning a CY 2011 Milestone B Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) and contract award. The program schedule and the budget request presented in these documents represent a FY 2012 PB restructure based upon a contract award in CY 2011. Adjustments in FY 2012 of $268.923M reflect a restructure based upon a contract award in CY 2011 and additional reductions.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Air Force
• Aircrafts
• Contractors
• Contracts
• Cost Analysis
• Costs
• Deployment
• Engineering
• Maintenance
• Medical Evacuation
• Military Acquisition
• Refueling
• Refueling In Flight
• Tanker Aircraft
• Test And Evaluation
• Training

Readers

• Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.

Technology Areas

• Space