[Ricardo Nunes]

EADS/Qantas Wins $2 Billion Air-To-Air Refueling Competition

(Source: Australian Department of Defence; issued Apr. 16, 2004)

The Military Transport Division of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) teamed with Qantas Defence Services has been selected as the preferred tenderer for the Royal Australian Air Force’s fleet of new air-to-air refueling aircraft, Defence Minister Robert Hill announced today.

Senator Hill said the government had selected the EADS A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport Aircraft to replace the RAAF’s ageing Boeing 707 aircraft in an approximate $2 billion project.

“The five new aircraft will be capable of refueling F/A-18, F-111, Airborne Early Warning and Control and Joint Strike Fighter aircraft,” Senator Hill said.

“They will also have a significant strategic air lift capacity when not engaged in aerial refueling tasks, including the ability to carry 293 passengers and a significant amount of cargo.

“The acquisition of an additional aircraft will provide a big boost to operational capabilities – giving the RAAF a wider range of activities in one area of operations while also supporting refueling and transport activities in a second area.”

“Our aircraft, for example, would enable non stop deployment of six F/A-18s from Darwin to Butterworth in Malaysia, while carrying 43 tons of support equipment and stores.”

Senator Hill said that recent experiences had showed the vital importance of this type of aircraft as a force multiplier during combat operations. This was borne out by the extremely valuable work done by the RAAF 707 tankers over Afghanistan during the War on Terror, and by the high demand for aerial refueling during the recent Iraqi Freedom operations.

Contract negotiations will now commence with EADS for the purchase of five aircraft.

The basic aircraft will be constructed in Europe, with four of the five having refueling modifications installed and integrated by Qantas in Brisbane. Qantas Defence Services will also conduct through life support of the aircraft in Australia.

“Australian industry will also be involved in the design of the refueling system, project management and production of aircraft components and engine parts for export,” Senator Hill said.

“Over the life of the program, the value of the work to be undertaken by Australian industry and the associated technology to be transferred to Australia exceeds $500 million.”

The project will be a significant defense industry boost for Australia.

Senator Hill said that all the aircraft would be fitted with an Electronic Warfare Self Protection suite for defense against shoulder fired surface to air missiles. Additionally, the EADS tender package includes a hospital bed kit for emergency medical evacuations and advanced simulators for crew training.

Contract signature is expected later this year, with the aircraft planned to enter service from 2007.

-ends-

[JNSA]

Boas notícias para os Australianos... e sobretudo boa escolha  

[Spectral]

O programa do KC-767 para a USAF foi suspenso devido a suspeitas de corrupção.

Só para se ter uma ideia da maneira como a USAF está irritada com a Boeing, fala-se seriamente na compra de Airbus para essa função de reabasecedores aéreos (não é que eu acredite...)

[Rui Elias]

A Austrália é um país enorme com apenas 20 ou 30 milhões de habitantes.

E está a armar-se como se de uma potência regional se tratasse.

Creio mesmo que já o é.

Sem ameaças no horizonte.

Porque é que Portugal não investe também um pouco mais nesses meios de infra-estrutura, como o reabastecimente aéreo?

Podemos ter as esquadras que quisermos, que se não podermos levá-las para teatros de operações longínquos (já que não temos porta-aviões), ficaremos sempre com raios de acção limitados.

Creio que a nossa FAP deveria pensar seriamente nesse aspecto e na compra de um ou dois aviões para transporte de tropas a longa distância.

Os C-130 não dão para tudo.