KC-46A refueling an AV8B | Photo: Boeing
Boeing is carrying out a study to determine how to configure their KC-46 mid-air refueling aircraft to carry two different types of fuel in its pursuit of the Indian Air Force (IAF) requirement for tankers.
The IAF’s Request For Information (RFI), published in January, requires aircraft that have the ability to refuel the varied air force fleet of aircraft that range from western to Russian
Speaking to media at DefExpo 2018 in Chennai earlier this month, Glenn T. Hanbey, Director for Global Sales & Marketing for the KC-46 Tanker Program at Boeing Military Aircraft, said, “We’re looking at that right now to see if we can do that. We need to do a study to see if the aircraft can do that. It may take a little bit of engineering on the aircraft though. We’re certainly looking at it.”
The IAF currently operates four types of fighter aircraft of Russian origin and two western fighter models, with a third — the Rafale — expected to be added to the fleet by September 2019.
The KC-46 has been designed to U.S. Air Force (USAF) specifications, which is planning to acquire 179 aircraft. And although the USAF will be certifying 64 receiver types, Hanbey explained that Russian receivers were not on the list, for reasons that are obvious.
“The U.S. Air Force is going to certify it on 64 different types of receivers. So if the Indian Air Force procured this aircraft, it would already be certified for all those different types of receivers. And if you know anything about certifying receivers — very costly, very time consuming, so that’s a great benefit. Also, the boom is instrumented — by that we mean, with the instrumentation on there, if you do have a new receiver, the instrumentation is on the boom to be able to certify the new receiver, unlike older aircraft — so it’s set up to certify new receivers,” he said, explaining further, “The Russian aircraft drogue capability is compatible with the KC-46. I’m not sure if we’re going to be certifying it, but they will be capable of refueling. I don’t think it’s on the list of certified receivers.”
The KC-46 has three drogue refueling systems and a boom system. “We have three drogues on this aircraft — pods on the wingtips which you can leave on or take off — if you want to save fuel you can take ’em off. We also have a centerline drogue which is always on the aircraft — and of course, we’ve got the third generation boom for C-17, P-8 — that you’re going to need for refueling. And it can offload 1200 gallons per minute. It’s a fly-by-wire boom,” said Hanbey.
No used aircraft
Unlike Airbus, which is considering a response to the Indian RFI with pre-owned/second-hand aircraft, Boeing has no such intention.
“No we’re not going to be doing it. We think there are a lot of problems with pre-owned aircraft. Finding aircraft of a similar configuration — you have to look at the commercial market, you have to find them and not all of them are the same — everyone of them is going to be different. Plus you have issues with corrosion, fatigue — it’s like a used car. A lot of its useful life has already been used up. Much higher maintenance cost for the aircraft — it takes a lot more maintenance to keep it going. The commercial dispatch rate for this aircraft is over 99 %. You’re probably not going to find that with a used aircraft,” said Hanbey.
“This aircraft will be the biggest tanker fleet in the world (with 179 aircraft). The air force said they wanted a commercial derivative aircraft much like the P-8, so we’re building this aircraft inline at the Boeing factory up at Everett, just like other KC-767s. Only, the biggest difference is we’re building the combat capability into this aircraft as we build it – just like the P-8. We’re building the tanks, the military systems — everything is being built into that aircraft, as it’s being built,” said Hanbey, who also pointed out, “A lot different from building an aircraft and then taking it and modifying it with different air-refueling systems added on. Like an after-market sunroof, if you will.”
Key features of the KC-46 | Graphic: Boeing
Night vision enabled, night mission capable
Boeing also recently conducted a complete mission with Night Vision Devices (NVDs). “This aircraft has 64 exterior lights on — LED lights, so we can do a complete mission on night vision goggles. We did that recently. It was the first air-refueling mission that we did from beginning to end on Night Vision Goggles. So the receiver — it used to be that he would have to take off his Night Vision Goggles in order to Inside the cockpit and exterior all night vision capable so the pilots can also wear night vision goggles as well,” said Hanbey.
Self protection
He also listed EMP-hardening, chemical and biological protection, an armoured flight deck and inerted nitrogen fuel systems in the aircraft for self protection. “The fuel systems in these aircraft are inerted with nitrogen. So if you do happen to take a round through one of the fuel tanks, it won’t explode,” he said,” adding, “With all those defensive systems on the aircraft, it can get in closer to the fight. So that means you don’t have to be so far away — the fighters don’t have to come out so far, so it’s a much better aircraft for the type of medium-threat environment.”
Multi-role capability
Hanbey said the KC-46 has multi-role capability. “This aircraft can actually carry 17 pallets — that’s the same number of pallets as the C-17, which the Indian Air Force is flying right now. It can’t carry as much weight, but it can carry the same number of pallets. It can also carry passengers, aero-medical and we can make a change between any of those systems in two hours. The reason we can do that is because we have a large cargo door right inside — unlike other competitors that don’t have that cargo door. We can put vehicles on that main deck as well,” he explained.
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