LOS ANGELES, March 12 (UPI) -- U.S. company Northrop Grumman said Monday its new KC-45A air tanker was already a tested and reliable aircraft.
Northrop Grumman and its partner, the European Aeronautics Defence and Space Co., have won a huge U.S. Air Force contract to build 179 of the aircraft for $35 billion. The contract is expected to eventually grow to 600 aircraft for $100 billion.
However, the Boeing Co., which lost out in the contest with its KC-767 air tanker, is protesting the award and has called in the U.S. Government Accountability Office to assess it.
Northrop Grumman said in a statement that its first KC-45A tanker aircraft "was built in July 2007 and flown in September 2007."
Northrop Grumman said the KC-45A's Aerial Refueling Boom System had already "completed 73 test flights totaling more than 200 flight hours."
"The boom completed the first in-flight fuel transfer on Feb. 29, 2008 passing 2,000 pounds of fuel to a Portuguese Air Force F-16 combat aircraft," the company said.
Northrop Grumman said the KC-45A was "based upon the Royal Australian Air Force KC-30B Multirole Tanker -- which has been built, flown, and is undergoing flight tests. It will be delivered on schedule to the Royal Australian Air Force in early 2009."
"Boeing's proposed KC-767AT tanker and refueling boom were never built, flown or tested," Northrop Grumman said.
Northrop Grumman also said its KC-45A tanker program "will create a new aerospace manufacturing corridor in the southeastern United States."
"The KC-45A program helps return competitiveness to the U.S. aerospace industry," the company said.
