Bidders join forces for future strategic tanker aircraft
Madrid, 24 January 2001
Five leading aerospace and defence companies have joined forces to form AirTanker, to bid for the UK Ministry of Defence's £9 billion Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) programme. The consortium includes the European Aeronautic, Defence and Space Company (EADS), Rolls Royce, Cobham, Brown & Root Services and Thales. The FSTA programme is to be a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) to replace the RAF's ageing VC10 and TriStar tankers with a complete air-to-air refuelling and air transport service provided by industry. AirTanker's proposal will be based on the latest generation of Airbus wide-bodied aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce Trent engines.
The AirTanker consortium will be able to provide the best value-for-money air-to-air refuelling capabilities required by the MOD in this groundbreaking project. Cobham, EADS, Rolls-Royce, Thales Defence (formerly Thomson Racal Defence) and Brown & Root Services will be equal shareholders in the new AirTanker company, bringing together proven expertise in flight operations, aerospace engineering, electronic systems and support services. Significant partnerships with financial institutions and airlines are currently being discussed.
AirTanker will provide a flexible, state-of-the-art capability for the Royal Air Force and long-term investment in the aerospace and electronics industrial base. Ultimately, it would create a significant number of new jobs, mostly in the high technology sector. The new tanker aircraft will operate from RAF Brize Norton and will have less environmental impact than the types being replaced.
The consortium is distinctive in that its members possess the necessary skills, services and products to deliver the full range of FSTA requirements. AirTanker is confident that its value-for-money and innovative solution will provide the RAF with a world-class air-to-air refuelling service.
Thales Defence's extensive activities encompass communications, air defence, sensors, optronic systems, naval systems and avionics. Combined global revenues of Thales (formerly Thomson-CSF) are close to Euro 8.2 billion. The new enlarged company employs 65,000 people worldwide; 50 per cent are based outside France, including 14,500 in the UK with a turnover of Euro 2 billion.
Rolls-Royce plc is a global company providing power on land, sea and air. It has 55,000 aero engines in service in over 150 countries, and is also global leader in marine power systems. Its customer base includes more than 500 airlines, 2,400 corporate and utility operators, 160 armed forces, 2,000 marine operators and more than 30 navies. It is involved in many future programmes, including the engines for Eurofighter Typhoon and Joint Strike Fighter, and the WR21 marine engine.
Brown & Root Services is a global provider of government project services. It employs 20,000 people in the Americas, UK, Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific and offers programme management, engineering, operations, maintenance and logistics services for programmes anywhere in the world. Brown & Root Sevices is the majority shareholder in the company that owns Devonport Dockyard and in joint venture with Marshall Aerospace provides aircraft engineering, supply and support services at RAF Valley, North Wales. Brown & Root Services is a unit of Halliburton Company.
Cobham plc designs and manufactures equipment, specialised systems and components supplied primarily to the aerospace, defence, industrial and communications markets - and operates, maintains and modifies aircraft, particularly in relation to special mission flight operations.
EADS was formed on July 10, 2000 following the merger of Aerospatiale Matra of France, Daimler Chrysler from Germany and Construcciones Aeronáuticas from Spain. EADS is the third largest aerospace company in the world. It has approximately 87000 employees.
For further information contact, please:
EADS-CASA
Miguel Sánchez
Tel.: (+34) 91-585 7789
Eduardo Galicia
Tel. +34 91 585 71 14
