Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft
Encyclopedia
Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) is a British project to procure aerial refuelling (AR) and air transport (AT) for the Royal Air Force
to replace VC10
and Lockheed TriStars
then in service. After evaluation of bids the RAF selected the AirTanker consortium who had offered the Airbus A330 MRTT
. AirTanker is owned by Cobham plc
, EADS
, Rolls-Royce plc
, Thales UK and VT Group plc
. The Royal Australian Air Force
announced in April 2004 that they had selected Airbus to provide tankers to a similar specification; in November 2010 it was suggested that the French Air Force
might buy spare FSTA capacity.
The project was to provide a replacement of the RAF's fleet of Vickers VC10
s from 2008 and the Lockheed TriStars
around 2012. The chosen aircraft will operate from the same RAF air transport hub, RAF Brize Norton
, Oxfordshire as the replaced aircraft.
The need for a new fleet of air-to-air refuelling aircraft was first identified in 1997. The use of PFI rather than purchase was chosen in 2000. The FSTA will be a Private Finance Initiative
(PFI) where the RAF will pay for aerial refuelling and air transport missions as required. The RAF will continue to retain responsibility for all military missions, whilst the contractor will own, manage and maintain the aircraft and also provide training facilities and some personnel. The private company will also be able to earn extra revenue by using aircraft for commercial operations when not required by the RAF — the most suitable of which would be leased air-refuelling missions for other European air forces. The RAF however will always have the "first call" on aircraft, being able to mobilise the entire fleet in times of crisis.
announced on 26 January 2004 that Air Tanker had been selected to enter into final negotiations to provide the RAF's FSTA.
Following aircraft selection the UK MoD began exclusive negotiations with the Airtanker consortium. However, beginning in April 2004, there were rumours about the fragile state of the contract negotiations. With continuing doubts over the FSTA programme, Marshall Aerospace
, responsible for the conversion of the RAF's original TriStars, have offered to buy and convert some of the large number of surplus commercial TriStars.
On 28 February 2005 the MoD named Airtanker as its preferred bidder for the £13bn contract.
announced on 6 June 2007 that AirTanker had been given the approval it needed to continue with the project, allowing the company to seek the £2 billion private financing required to begin funding the aircraft.
On 27 March 2008, a PFI deal was agreed with AirTanker, worth £10.5 billion over the course of the contract, and will involve 14 converted A330 aircraft being delivered from 2011 and being operated until at least 2035.
The AirTanker facility is based at RAF Brize Norton, where a two-bay hangar and support building will provide a maintenance facility, flight operations centre and office headquarters for the programme.
The contract will be paid for at £390 million per annum. Of this running costs are £80 million and the remainder covers the consortium's financing and profit and the capital cost of the project, including aircraft and infrastructure.
The first airframe was delivered for tanker conversion on 10 July 2009.
The first two development aircraft went through a comprehensive military conversion process and initial flight testing programme at Airbus Military’s facility near Madrid, Spain. The following 12 aircraft destined for the FSTA fleet will be converted by Cobham Aviation Services at their facility in Bournemouth, UK.
The first aircraft to be converted in the UK arrived Bournemouth International Airport on 26 August 2011. On 2 September 2011, Cobham held a ceremony formally opening its newly refurbished A330 conversion facility a Bournemouth. Cobham will convert the 12 remaining A330-200 MRTT airframes into RAF Voyager FSTAs at this facility; each conversion will take about nine months. All aircraft will be equipped with a pair of wing-mounted aerial-refuelling pods, while only seven FSTAs will be fitted for centreline flight refuelling units (FRUs).
Lufthansa Technik
will provide support, repair, and overhaul services.
The aircraft will be known as Voyager in RAF service and in July 2011 it was officially named at a ceremony at RAF Fairford
during the 2011 Royal International Air Tattoo
.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
to replace VC10
Vickers VC10
The Vickers VC10 is a long-range British airliner designed and built by Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd, and first flown in 1962. The airliner was designed to operate on long-distance routes with a high subsonic speed and also be capable of hot and high operations from African airports...
and Lockheed TriStars
Lockheed TriStar (RAF)
|-See also:-References:* Prothero, R.M. "Tristar:The answer to an operational requirement". Air International, March 1991, Vol 40 No. 3. pp. 128–134....
then in service. After evaluation of bids the RAF selected the AirTanker consortium who had offered the Airbus A330 MRTT
Airbus A330 MRTT
The Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport is an aerial refuelling tanker aircraft based on the civilian Airbus A330-200. The A330 MRTT has been ordered by the Royal Australian Air Force , Royal Air Force , United Arab Emirates Air Force, and Royal Saudi Air Force...
. AirTanker is owned by Cobham plc
Cobham plc
Cobham plc is a British manufacturing company based in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index...
, EADS
EADS
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. is a global pan-European aerospace and defence corporation and a leading defence and military contractor worldwide...
, Rolls-Royce plc
Rolls-Royce plc
Rolls-Royce Group plc is a global power systems company headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second-largest maker of aircraft engines , and also has major businesses in the marine propulsion and energy sectors. Through its defence-related activities...
, Thales UK and VT Group plc
VT Group
VT Group plc was a British defence and services company, formerly known as Vosper Thornycroft. The Company had diversified from shipbuilding into various engineering and support services, becoming involved in many areas of provision through five main operating groups: VT Communications, VT...
. The Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
announced in April 2004 that they had selected Airbus to provide tankers to a similar specification; in November 2010 it was suggested that the French Air Force
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
might buy spare FSTA capacity.
Background
Vickers VC10
The Vickers VC10 is a long-range British airliner designed and built by Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd, and first flown in 1962. The airliner was designed to operate on long-distance routes with a high subsonic speed and also be capable of hot and high operations from African airports...
s from 2008 and the Lockheed TriStars
Lockheed TriStar (RAF)
|-See also:-References:* Prothero, R.M. "Tristar:The answer to an operational requirement". Air International, March 1991, Vol 40 No. 3. pp. 128–134....
around 2012. The chosen aircraft will operate from the same RAF air transport hub, RAF Brize Norton
RAF Brize Norton
RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, about west north-west of London, is the largest station of the Royal Air Force. It is close to the settlements of Brize Norton, Carterton and Witney....
, Oxfordshire as the replaced aircraft.
The need for a new fleet of air-to-air refuelling aircraft was first identified in 1997. The use of PFI rather than purchase was chosen in 2000. The FSTA will be a Private Finance Initiative
Private Finance Initiative
The private finance initiative is a way of creating "public–private partnerships" by funding public infrastructure projects with private capital...
(PFI) where the RAF will pay for aerial refuelling and air transport missions as required. The RAF will continue to retain responsibility for all military missions, whilst the contractor will own, manage and maintain the aircraft and also provide training facilities and some personnel. The private company will also be able to earn extra revenue by using aircraft for commercial operations when not required by the RAF — the most suitable of which would be leased air-refuelling missions for other European air forces. The RAF however will always have the "first call" on aircraft, being able to mobilise the entire fleet in times of crisis.
Competition
Final bids for the project were received from the two competing consortia on 30 April 2003.- Air Tanker Ltd offered a mix of new and used Airbus A330-200s, team composed of:
- Rolls-RoyceRolls-Royce plcRolls-Royce Group plc is a global power systems company headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second-largest maker of aircraft engines , and also has major businesses in the marine propulsion and energy sectors. Through its defence-related activities...
- Trent 700Rolls-Royce TrentRolls-Royce Trent is the name given to a family of high bypass turbofan aircraft engines manufactured by Rolls-Royce plc. All are developments of the RB211 with thrust ratings of . Versions of the Trent are in service on the Airbus A330, A340, A380, Boeing 777, and 787, and variants are in...
turbofanTurbofanThe turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion. A turbofan combines two types of engines, the turbo portion which is a conventional gas turbine engine, and the fan, a propeller-like ducted fan...
s - CobhamCobham plcCobham plc is a British manufacturing company based in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index...
- Air-refuelling hose and drogue system - EADSEADSThe European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. is a global pan-European aerospace and defence corporation and a leading defence and military contractor worldwide...
- Airbus A330-200 - Thales GroupThales GroupThe Thales Group is a French electronics company delivering information systems and services for the aerospace, defense, transportation and security markets...
- AvionicsAvionicsAvionics are electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites and spacecraft.Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to meet individual roles...
and training.
- Rolls-Royce
- Tanker Transport Services Consortium (TTSC) offered converted British AirwaysBritish AirwaysBritish Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
Boeing 767Boeing 767The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail...
s:- British AirwaysBritish AirwaysBritish Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
- Aircraft - BoeingBoeingThe Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
- Conversion technology, using the KC-767Boeing KC-767The Boeing KC-767 is a military aerial refueling and strategic transport aircraft developed from the Boeing 767-200ER. The tanker received the designation KC-767A in 2002, after being selected by the US Air Force initially to replace older KC-135Es...
as the basis of the design. - BAE SystemsBAE SystemsBAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
- Conversion of majority of aircraft and mission systems. - Marshall AerospaceMarshall AerospaceThe Marshall companies have been internationally associated with aerospace engineering for nearly a century. The company employs over 1,800 people and is based on an site with of covered hangar space...
- Serco
- Spectrum Capital
- British Airways
Selection and contract negotiations
The UK Ministry of DefenceMinistry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
announced on 26 January 2004 that Air Tanker had been selected to enter into final negotiations to provide the RAF's FSTA.
Following aircraft selection the UK MoD began exclusive negotiations with the Airtanker consortium. However, beginning in April 2004, there were rumours about the fragile state of the contract negotiations. With continuing doubts over the FSTA programme, Marshall Aerospace
Marshall Aerospace
The Marshall companies have been internationally associated with aerospace engineering for nearly a century. The company employs over 1,800 people and is based on an site with of covered hangar space...
, responsible for the conversion of the RAF's original TriStars, have offered to buy and convert some of the large number of surplus commercial TriStars.
On 28 February 2005 the MoD named Airtanker as its preferred bidder for the £13bn contract.
AirTanker awarded contract
The MoDMinistry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
announced on 6 June 2007 that AirTanker had been given the approval it needed to continue with the project, allowing the company to seek the £2 billion private financing required to begin funding the aircraft.
On 27 March 2008, a PFI deal was agreed with AirTanker, worth £10.5 billion over the course of the contract, and will involve 14 converted A330 aircraft being delivered from 2011 and being operated until at least 2035.
The AirTanker facility is based at RAF Brize Norton, where a two-bay hangar and support building will provide a maintenance facility, flight operations centre and office headquarters for the programme.
The contract will be paid for at £390 million per annum. Of this running costs are £80 million and the remainder covers the consortium's financing and profit and the capital cost of the project, including aircraft and infrastructure.
The first airframe was delivered for tanker conversion on 10 July 2009.
The first two development aircraft went through a comprehensive military conversion process and initial flight testing programme at Airbus Military’s facility near Madrid, Spain. The following 12 aircraft destined for the FSTA fleet will be converted by Cobham Aviation Services at their facility in Bournemouth, UK.
The first aircraft to be converted in the UK arrived Bournemouth International Airport on 26 August 2011. On 2 September 2011, Cobham held a ceremony formally opening its newly refurbished A330 conversion facility a Bournemouth. Cobham will convert the 12 remaining A330-200 MRTT airframes into RAF Voyager FSTAs at this facility; each conversion will take about nine months. All aircraft will be equipped with a pair of wing-mounted aerial-refuelling pods, while only seven FSTAs will be fitted for centreline flight refuelling units (FRUs).
Lufthansa Technik
Lufthansa Technik
Lufthansa Technik AG is the leading manufacturer-independent provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul services for aircraft, engines and components. The Lufthansa Technik Group consists of 32 companies with more than 25.500 employees...
will provide support, repair, and overhaul services.
The aircraft will be known as Voyager in RAF service and in July 2011 it was officially named at a ceremony at RAF Fairford
RAF Fairford
RAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force station in Gloucestershire, England. It is a standby airfield, not in everyday use. Its most prominent use in recent years has been as an airfield for United States Air Force B-52s during the 2003 Iraq War, Operation Allied Force in 1999, and the first Gulf War in...
during the 2011 Royal International Air Tattoo
Royal International Air Tattoo
The Royal International Air Tattoo is the world's largest military air show, held annually over the third weekend in July, usually at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom in support of The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust...
.