KC-46 RDT&E

Abstract

Replacement of the legacy tanker fleet will take place in three stages, known as the KC-X (now the KC-46), KC-Y, and the KC-Z. The initial KC-46 increment will replace roughly a third of the current capability with the purchase of 179 aircraft. The Air Force completed an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) in Apr 2006 to determine the most appropriate strategy to recapitalize the aging fleet of aerial refueling aircraft. Based on this analysis, the Air Force concluded a strategy of full and open competition to select a commercial derivative replacement tanker aircraft would result in a best value tanker contract. To initiate the first phase of the tanker replacement, the KC-46 program released a final Request for Proposal (RFP) on 24 Feb 2010, and entered source selection on 9 Jul 2010. The KC-46 program held a Milestone B Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) on 23 Feb 2011, received approval to enter Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) from OUSD(AT&L) on 24 Feb 2011, and awarded the KC-46 EMD contract to Boeing on 24 Feb 2011 to develop and procure 179 KC-46 aircraft. Initial sustainment efforts will be provided via Interim Contractor Support (ICS). KC-46 funding will also support a follow-on sustainment planning Business Case Analysis (BCA), various studies/analyses and KC-Y/KC-Z planning activities. The KC-46 will provide the capability to fuel joint and coalition receivers via a boom or drogue system on every mission and will also augment the airlift fleet with cargo, passenger and aeromedical evacuation capabilities. The KC-46 will 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-46 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 ability to operate in up to medium threat environments with self-defense/protection (both active and passive) capabilities; and will have necessary battle space awareness to mitigate survivability threats. The KC-46 development effort will also procure the necessary ground and flight test assets to support development/operational test. The program has procured four RDT&E aircraft for integration and demonstration of capability which will be operationally fielded after a successful operational test phase. In addition, aircrew and maintenance training systems will be developed and procured using KC-46 funding. The Aircrew Training System (ATS) entered source selection on 31 May 2012 and a contract was awarded on 1 May 2013 to FlightSafety Services Corp. The ATS contract will provide Aircrew Training Devices (ATDs), to include Weapon System Trainers (WST), Boom Operator Trainers (BOT), Fuselage Trainers (FuT) and Part-Task Trainers (PTT) at each Main Operating Base (MOB) and the Formal Training Unit (FTU). The ATS will also support Distributed Mission Operations (DMO), provide aircrew instruction, develop courseware, provide logistics support, acquire Technical Data Packages (TDP) to support future competition efforts, and manage training device concurrency with the aircraft. The Maintenance Training System (MTS) is scheduled to enter source selection in FY2015. This program is in Budget Activity 05, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) because it has passed Milestone B approval and is 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, 2016
• Source ID: 655271_0605221F_5_3600_PB_2016

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering
• Aerospace logistics and air mobility.

Technology Areas

• Space