Singapore Airshow 2022: Airbus banks on ‘beauty’ of longer-range tanker for KC-Y
Concept art of the LMXT strategic tanker. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
Airbus has high hopes of landing a new tanker contract with the USAF, as it and prime Lockheed Martin bet on their joint LMXT concept to deliver an extended-range capability for the KC-Y programme.
Airbus is confident its partnership with Lockheed Martin on the future LMXT strategic tanker can deliver on USAF ambitions to operate at increasingly longer ranges.
LMXT will have a greater fuel capacity than the A330 MRTT upon which the former is based. It will be integrated with a range of US systems by Lockheed Martin, which would act as the prime manufacturer on the effort.
It will also oversee conversion and production activities – all dependent on securing a KC-Y production contract with as many as 140-160 aircraft expected to be procured from 2029 onward.
‘Longer range means that there are
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