The KC-45 aircraft is relies on the A330 multirole tanker transport, selected by the air forces of Australia, united kingdom and also the UAE. Mission equipment will include EADS's fly-by-wire aerial refuelling boom system (ARBS), with two all-digital FRL 905E-series hose and drogue refuelling pods, i.e. identical configuration as selected by the Royal Australian Air Force, whose first KC-30B Tanker has been completed and is being readied for delivery.
In September 2010, EADS demonstrated that its new KC-45 tanker can fulfil the US Air Force specifications for top fuel flow rates. EADS carried out the demonstration through a refuelling operation between two Airbus Military A330 multirole tanker transports.
The KC-45 has a max fuel capacity of 250,000lb, (representing 25th more fuel than the capacity of the KC-135 aircraft) and a multi-point refuelling system with a combination of boom, hose and drogue, and hose drum systems which offer flexibility, high off-load rates and servicing of a lot of aircraft per mission, thereby reducing or eliminating queues of waiting aircraft and lowering fuel-related mission-abort rates.
The USAF KC-45 aircraft is powered by two CF6-80E1A4B turbofan engines provided by GE Aviation and rated at 72,000lb thrust. The CF-6 series already equips the EADS A330 multirole tanker transport for the Royal Australian Air Force, on which the KC-45 is based.
In September 2010, EADS demonstrated that its new KC-45 tanker can fulfil the US Air Force specifications for top fuel flow rates. EADS carried out the demonstration through a refuelling operation between two Airbus Military A330 multirole tanker transports.
The KC-45 has a max fuel capacity of 250,000lb, (representing 25th more fuel than the capacity of the KC-135 aircraft) and a multi-point refuelling system with a combination of boom, hose and drogue, and hose drum systems which offer flexibility, high off-load rates and servicing of a lot of aircraft per mission, thereby reducing or eliminating queues of waiting aircraft and lowering fuel-related mission-abort rates.
The USAF KC-45 aircraft is powered by two CF6-80E1A4B turbofan engines provided by GE Aviation and rated at 72,000lb thrust. The CF-6 series already equips the EADS A330 multirole tanker transport for the Royal Australian Air Force, on which the KC-45 is based.
