KC-X RDT&E
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
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2012
- Source ID
- 655271_0605221F_5_3600_PB_2012
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