. Military Space News .
Groundbreaking For The KC-45 Tanker Manufacturing Facilities Set For June 28

EADS North America will deliver the KC-45 aircraft platform to Northrop Grumman. Airbus, an EADS company, is responsible for manufacturing at its Mobile final assembly facility and will assemble, test and certify the aircraft before delivery. Following delivery to Northrop Grumman, the aircraft will receive the necessary military modifications to turn the commercial airframe into a U.S. Air Force KC-45 Tanker.
by Staff Writers
Washington DC (SPX) May 14, 2008
Northrop Grumman and its key subcontractor, EADS North America, will join local, state and federal officials and the citizens of Mobile, Ala., in a groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, June 28. Ground will be broken at Mobile's Brookley Field, where two adjacent manufacturing facilities will be built to produce the nation's new fleet of aerial refueling tanker aircraft.

The ceremony has been scheduled pending the outcome of the Government Accountability Office review of the tanker contract award. "We anticipate a favorable decision and look forward to starting construction on this historic facility," said Ronald D. Sugar, Northrop Grumman chairman and chief executive officer. "We're committed to transforming Mobile into the centerpiece of an expanding aerospace corridor."

"This event underscores the fact that we are ready to get to work now," Sugar said. "We need to move forward quickly to provide our men and women in uniform what the Air Force has identified as its number-one acquisition priority -- the new refueling tankers they so desperately need."

Northrop Grumman and EADS North America are committed to the U.S. Air Force and also have contractual agreements in place with one another, the state of Alabama and the city of Mobile to ensure construction of the facilities is ready to move forward.

"We are excited that Brookley Field will once again be a hub of American military aircraft manufacturing," said Rep. Jo Bonner of Alabama's 1st Congressional District.

"There is no doubt that Mobile is poised to be the crown jewel of a rapidly growing aerospace center of excellence in the Southeastern United States, bringing thousands of jobs and creating endless opportunities for our entire region."

EADS North America will deliver the KC-45 aircraft platform to Northrop Grumman. Airbus, an EADS company, is responsible for manufacturing at its Mobile final assembly facility and will assemble, test and certify the aircraft before delivery. Following delivery to Northrop Grumman, the aircraft will receive the necessary military modifications to turn the commercial airframe into a U.S. Air Force KC-45 Tanker.

In keeping with U.S. Department of Defense requirements, only Northrop Grumman and U.S. government employees with appropriate security clearances will militarize the tanker aircraft.

"EADS North America is fully committed to providing Northrop Grumman with an aircraft built in the U.S.," said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., EADS North America chairman and chief executive officer. "More importantly, our men and women in uniform require and deserve the most capable system available. They have been waiting far too long for a modern tanker. Our entire team is ready to get to work now."

Northrop Grumman's architectural and engineering firm for the facility, BRPH Companies Inc., was selected last year and is prepared for the construction phase. Northrop Grumman's facility is scheduled for completion and initial operation late next year. BRPH is leading a team consisting of KBR's Mobile office and Thompson Engineering, headquartered in Mobile.

The groundbreaking ceremony occurs just a few days after the 60th anniversary of the start of the Berlin Airlift. This is significant because Brookley Field was the base from which C-54 transport aircraft supported the airlift.

The KC-45 Tanker aircraft will be assembled in Mobile, Ala., and the KC-45 team will employ 48,000 American workers at 230 U.S. companies in 49 states. It will be built by a world-class industrial team led by Northrop Grumman, and includes EADS North America, General Electric Aviation and Sargent Fletcher.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
Northrop Grumman
The latest in Military Technology for the 21st century at SpaceWar.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


QinetiQ And Boeing's Team ACTIVE And UK MOD Complete Training Simulation Demon Program
St Louis MO (SPX) May 14, 2008
QinetiQ and Boeing, leaders of Team ACTIVE (Aircrew Collective Training through Immersive Virtual Events), have successfully linked the U.S. Distributed Mission Operations Network aircrew training system and another nation's simulation facilities for the first time.







  • China's new naval base triggers US concerns
  • Taipei says China defence build-up to deter US intervention
  • Nuclear missiles parade across Red Square
  • Outside View: Russia's Blackjack power

  • Iran rules out talks on nuclear 'rights'
  • NKorea slows down nuclear disablement, US says
  • Outside View: Russian-Iran nuke moves
  • SKorean chief nuclear envoy heads for Beijing: officials

  • Pakistan test-fires nuclear-capable cruise missile: military
  • Raytheon Teams With Emirates Advanced Investments To Develop Laser Guided Rocket
  • Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Program Moves Forward To Serve Warfighters
  • Raytheon's SLAMRAAM A Success In First System Field Test

  • US offer on missile defence unsatisfactory: Poland PM
  • Japan Plans Missile Defense Warning Satellites
  • No permanent foreign inspectors in US-Czech radar talks: minister
  • BMD Focus: West trumps East -- Part 2

  • China's new jumbo-jet firm no threat to Airbus, Boeing: state media
  • China unveils new jumbo jet company: report
  • NASA And JAXA To Conduct Joint Research On Sonic Boom Modeling
  • Analysis: Can airplanes go green?

  • Raytheon Teams With Swift Engineering To Offer KillerBee UAS
  • EU satellite imagery experts will seek to solve Georgia drones row
  • Georgia denies Abkhaz, Russian claims over spy planes
  • GD And Elbit Conduct First US Demo Of UAS For US Armed Forces

  • Feature: Notes on Iraq
  • Feature: Divisions, al-Qaida leave legacy
  • Gates urges military to focus on Iraq, not future wars
  • Iraq - Technical Assistance For Construction Of Facilities

  • Groundbreaking For The KC-45 Tanker Manufacturing Facilities Set For June 28
  • Mine-resistant vehicles save soldiers' lives: Gates
  • QinetiQ And Boeing's Team ACTIVE And UK MOD Complete Training Simulation Demon Program
  • First Boeing P-8A Poseidon Gets Its Wings

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement