Technical Services - Spring 2008 - (Page 9)

lcoe Tanker Win a “Game Changer” for Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman’s KC-45A aerial refueling tanker to replace the service’s aging fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers. The airborne gasoline stations are of vital importance to U.S. global warfighting as they enable the nation’s fighter jets and bombers to continue on their missions rather than return to aircraft carriers or bases for refueling. For the Air Force, the replacement program is critical, as the existing fleet, which first entered service during the 1950s, requires an ever-increasing amount of money and time to maintain. I n a highly awaited decision, the U.S. Air Force announced Feb. 29 that it had selected For Northrop Grumman, the deal is a “game changer,” further positioning the corporation as a large-scale, prime aircraft provider to the Air Force. “Everyone told us we were crazy, that we had no chance,” said Ron Sugar, Northrop Grumman’s chairman and chief executive officer, in an interview with BusinessWeek. “But we took a big swing and in this case, we hit a home run.” The initial KC-45A contract calls for four System Design and Development aircraft and is valued at $1.5 billion, but that’s just the beginning. The potential value of the initial purchase of 179 tanker aircraft is $35 billion. Dr. Sugar has stated that the tanker deal is a program of which all Northrop Grumman employees should be extremely proud. “The competition underwent the most rigorous, fair and transparent acquisition process in Defense Department history,” he said. “The KC-45A program is a ‘win’ for all 120,000 employees across Northrop Grumman.” Technical Services is one of several sectors within Northrop Grumman that will support the program. The first Northrop Grumman KC-45A tanker aircraft has already been built and flown, and the KC-45A Aerial Refueling Boom System has completed 73 test flights totaling more than 200 flight hours. In fact, the boom completed the first in-flight fuel transfer on Feb. 29—the same day the contract was awarded—passing 2,000 pounds of fuel to a Portuguese Air Force F-16 combat aircraft. Northrop Grumman has created an internal Web site to keep employees up to date on the tanker program. For more information, please visit: http://home.northgrum.com/kc45/index.html. TS Northrop Grumman's KC-45A refuels aircraft and transports cargo. Northrop Grumman Technical Services 9 http://home.northgrum.com/kc45/index.html

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Technical Services - Spring 2008

Technical Services - Spring 2008 Contents President's Column New Business Wins Sierra Vista, Arizona Military Weapon Systems Support Operation Achieves ISO 9001:2000 FSS Supports Navy in Hot Spots Lake Charles Maintenance and Modification Center Tanker Win a "Game Changer" Warner Robins Regional Service Center NY Labs Keep Aircraft Mission Ready TS Team Helps People Reach the 'American Dream' NSTec Brings NNSA Green Construction Project on Time, Under Budget SGS Team Member Takes on New Challenges at Cape Canaveral; Fort Leavenworth Team Members Help Local Youth NSROC Helps Students Shoulder to Shoulder BCTB Program Wins Prestigious DoD Award TS Instructors Prepare Warfighters for Combat I'm In! TS Team Members Sharpen Skills Through Advanced Training and Career-Broadening Opportunities OpenLine; Fort Leavenworth Team Members Honored

Technical Services - Spring 2008

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