Boeing, the Defense will purchase two more Kc-767 aircraft
The Defense Committees of the House and Senate have given a favorable opinion on the purchase of two additional Boeing Kc-767s. An Air Force KC767 is currently participating in NATO's Neptune Strike air-naval exercise
Green light from Parliament to purchase two more Boeing Kc-767 A military aircraft for in-flight refueling and transport.
Last December 15, the Defense Committee of the Senate gave a favorable opinion (after the one expressed by the homologous of the Chamber) to the draft ministerial decree approving the multi-year A / R program n. SMD 08/2021, related to the renewal, enhancement and integrated logistic support of the heavy multi-role AM tanker line
"The multi-role heavy tanker capacity of the Italian Air Force is based on the Boeing KC-767 A Tanker / Transport platform, derived from the civil model Boeing 767-200ER (Extended Range), which guarantees high autonomy and cargo volume, combined with refueling in flight. The two additional assets are of the same family as the KC-767 A ”explains the Defense sheet attached to the decree.
The two aircraft will therefore be added to the “4 Boeing Kc-767s already used by the Air Force at the Pratica di Mare base, which will be modernized” underlines Il Sole 24 Ore .
The cost of the program is estimated at 1.41 billion euros spread over 15 years, up to 2035.
Currently, an Air Force KC 767 refueler with Air to Air Refueling (AAR) duties is participating in the Neptune Strike air-naval exercise, organized and conducted by NATO Naval Striking and Support Forces.
Furthermore, the military aircraft Kc-767A of the 14 ° Stormo of the Air Force was used in February 2020 on the occasion of the high bio-containment evacuation of contagious patients from the city of Wuhan.
All the details.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AIRCRAFT
The KC-767A derives from the Boeing 767-200 “Extended Range” commercial aircraft. “The KC-767 Tanker / Transport guarantees high flight and load autonomy, combined with the ability to refuel in flight, as a“ receiver ”or“ tanker ”. The refueling systems are compatible with Italian and allied aircraft. The KC-767A is capable of being refueled in order to extend its range, ”reads the Air Force website.
The aircraft can be set up in three different configurations (COMBI, CARGO and FULL PAX), with a payload of up to 25,000 kg.
Furthermore, the latest generation refueling system will allow the Am to refuel over 60 aircraft of various types (fighter aircraft, transport, tiltrotors, etc.), thus expanding the offer of support in the NATO, international and coalition fields. .
THE COST OF THE PROGRAM
As stated in the multiannual defense planning document for the three-year period 2021-2023, the overall cost of the program is 1.41 billion euros.
The allocations are programmed as follows: 40 million in total (first and second tranche) for 2021, 40 million for 2022, 67 million for 2023, 368 million for the three-year period 2024-2026 and the remaining 895 million for the years from 2027 to 2035 .
THE TARGET
The final objective of the program is “to ensure the completion of the heavy multi-role tanker fleet, bringing it from 4 to 6 aircraft all homogenized with the same certification and performance reference, in order to guarantee in-flight refueling missions; medium and long haul transport; sanitary transport in bio-containment; repatriation of personnel in critical medical conditions (through the aforementioned stratevac kit). To this end, the program envisages: the acquisition of two assets; the update of the 4 aircraft already on line; the relative technical-logistical support for a suitable post-delivery period ”explain the parliamentary documents.
CONSOLIDATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN NATIONAL INDUSTRY AND THE USA
Furthermore, “the Defense points out that the program in question offers potential opportunities for consolidating relations between the national and US industry, through specific orders by Boeing for Italian companies”.
“As part of the industrial logistical support provided to the tanker fleet, Boeing already makes use of Italian companies that carry out maintenance activities on the Pratica di Mare grounds”.
THE INDUSTRIAL RETURN
As for the industrial return, in the context of logistical and maintenance support "it will amount to around 40% of the global investment" according to the Defense.
“The partnership with Boeing dates back to 2011, when there was the acquisition of the first tankers” recalls Il Sole 24 Ore .
A KC-767 BOEING FROM AM PARTICIPATES IN THE NEPTUNE STRIKE BORN
Finally, an Air Force KC 767 refueler with Air to Air Refueling (AAR) duties is participating in the Neptune Strike. That is the air-naval exercise organized and conducted by the Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO which began on January 24th. AAR is the in-flight refueling operation between aircraft. This capability makes it possible to extend the time spent in flight by refueled aircraft.
The Italian Air Force is able to refuel in flight through Boeing KC767 aircraft supplied to the 14th wing of Pratica di Mare (RM) and KC-130 supplied to the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/smartcity/boeing-la-difesa-acquistera-altri-due-aerei-kc-767/ on Thu, 27 Jan 2022 06:40:27 +0000.