6 new KC-46s for the Italian Air Force

The Italian Air Force has decided to start negotiating with Boeing to purchase 6 new Boeing KC-46A (called KC-767B in Italy) to replace the current 4 KC-767A.

The aircraft currently on the line will be exchanged to Boeing.

The Ministry of Defence’s choice was made in order to rationalise the flight line as there was an initial requirement for 2 additional tankers to those currently in service.

The cost of the contract is about $1.3 billion, including support from Boeing for 5 years.

itamilradar 

Italy Air Force KC-767s could support first F-35 transatlantic crossing

The Italian Air Force is aligned to complete the first transatlantic crossing of the Lockheed Martin F-35 when its first two aircraft fly from Novara, Italy, to Arizona in early 2016, and those aircraft are likely be refuelled along the way by Italian Boeing KC-767A tankers.
The US Marine Corps’ planned hop across the pond to London for the Farnborough Airshow last year was thwarted by an F-35A engine fire that temporarily grounded the entire fleet.
Now, with the delivery and successful first flight of the first Italian F-35A from the Cameri Final Assembly and Check Out facility, the Italian Air Force is expected to make the historic journey before any DOD aircraft, and its KC-767 is on track to be fully certified to support the crossing.
The KC-767 completed its first refuelling of an F-35 in late July during a qualification flight at Edwards AFB in California. It is the first international tanker to do so.
flightglobal

Brazil to Acquire 3 KC-767 From IAI

The Brazilian air force and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have renewed contract negotiations over Brazil's acquisition of three Boeing 767-300ERs that will be converted into tankers.
Attempts to finalise the terms of the deal – which was agreed in mid-2014 – were delayed by general elections held in Brazil last October.
An initial contract with IAI was signed last year, but the exact details of the conversion plan were not concluded.
Once operational, the converted 767s will reinstate a jet-based in-flight refuelling capability to the Brazilian air force that lapsed when it retired its four Boeing KC-137s. The replacement assets will be equipped with underwing hose-and-drogue refuelling pods.
flightglobal

Italy Air Force KC-767 Tracked Flying From Kuwait City to North Iraq Righ Now

flightradar24

IAI to offer converted tankers to South Korea

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is to offer the Korea an aerial refuelling solution based on its converted Boeing 767-300ER Multi-Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT) tanker.
In offering its MMTT, IAI joins Airbus Defence and Space and Boeing which are offering South Korea their A330-200 MultiRole Tanker Transport (MRTT) and KC-46A Pegasus platforms respectively.
As well as being cheaper to procure, IAI's pre-owned solution need not give anything away to its new-build rivals in terms of either through-life support costs or reliability.
To date, Colombia and Brazil have signed up for IAI's B767 MMTT conversions, with one 767-200 and two 767-300 aircraft respectively. Besides South Korea, IAI is also looking at offering nations a pooled tanker capability, similar in scope to the three Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft operated by NATO's Strategic Airlift Capability.
janes

Brazil to add third converted 767 tanker

Brazil is to sign a revised contract soon to add a third converted Boeing 767-300 tanker to its air force inventory.
In March 2013, the Brazilian air force selected Israel Aerospace Industries for the conversion of two commercial Boeing 767-300ERs, with options for an additional two. These will replace the service’s four retired KC-137s, which had been in use since 1986.
The modified 767s will be configured with under-wing hose-and-drogue refuelling pods to support Brazilian air force fighters.
IAI is offering the Boeing 767 in a flexible configuration comprising hose-and-drogue pods, a boom, or both. It has already delivered one modified example to the Colombian air force, nicknamed “Jupiter”.
flightglobal

Italian Air Force getting ready for NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission

On 27 January 2014 two members of the Italian Air Force flew in at the Air Base in Šiauliai with two Eurofighter Typhoon fighter-jets and a Boeing KC-767A refuelling tanker.
Till Thursday the Italian airmen will be training in the Baltic airspace in advance of NATO’s Air Policing mission in the Baltic States which Italy is to take over for the first time in January 2015.
Italian troops with four Eurofighter Typhoon fighter-jets whose tour of duty at the Šiauliai Ari Base will run for four months starting with January 2015 have arrived to familiarise with climatic conditions in Lithuania and the NATO mission.
lithuaniatribune

Brazil selects IAI 767 tanker to replace KC-137s

The Brazilian air force has selected Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to convert two Boeing 767-300ER airliners into aerial refueling tanker transports.
The converted aircraft, will replace the country's existing Boeing 707-derived KC-137s. Brazil's two KC-137s were built in the 1960s but only entered service with the country's air force in 1986.
The aircraft need to be replaced because of high operating costs and high fuel consumption. The aircraft's excessive engine noise also played a factor in Brazil's decision to replace the KC-137.
Brazil has been looking for a replacement tanker since 2008 under the KC-X2 programme. Boeing, Airbus Military and IAI had been invited to submit bids.
The award comes nearly three years after IAI delivered to Colombia a 767-200 modified into a tanker.
IAI's Bedek division performs the tanker modifications. The company offers refueling by probe-and-drogue and a fly-by-wire boom, although it was not clear which
configuration Brazil selected.

flightglobal

South Korea to decide on aerial refueling tankers in 2014

South Korea plans to move forward with the purchase of four aerial refueling tankers in 2014, which can greatly enhance the operational capabilities of its Air Force.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a report that it has carefully reviewed the need to procure the tanker aircraft and decided to move forward with the process.
DAPA will officially announce the bidding in January for project that aims to purchase four planes between 2017 and 2019. Boeing's KC-767 and Airbus Military's MRTTA330 are likely contenders.
With midair refueling, South Korean F-15Ks can keep station over places like Ieodo and Dokdo islets for around 80-90 minutes compared with the current 20-30 minutes.
South Korea has signed also a 500 billion won deal with Taurus Systems, a joint German-Spanish firm, to buy long-range, air-to-surface attack missile. The Taurus missile has a 500-kilometer-range and gives the user the ability to strike pin-point targets deep inside hostile territories without putting the attacking fight at risk.
yonhapnews

Comienzan los ejercicios militares aéreo más importante de América Latina CRUZEX flight 2013

Las fuerzas aéreas de seis países suramericanos junto con las de Estados Unidos y Canadá iniciaron este lunes en el nordeste de Brasil el ejercicio militar aéreo más importante de América Latina, los “CRUZEX Flight 2013″ que se prolongarán por 11 días, hasta el 15 de noviembre, e implicarán 89 aviones y nueve helicópteros, además de más de dos mil militares.
La bases Aéreas de Natal y Recife acogen a partir de este lunes los ejercicios de guerra de las fuerzas aéreas de Brasil, Canadá, Chile, Colombia, Estados Unidos, Ecuador, Uruguay y Venezuela.
Argentina, cuya presencia estaba prevista, canceló a última hora su participación en el evento, aunque eso no modificará los ejercicios programados.
Las aeronaves de las diferentes fuerzas aéreas que participan en la prueba llegaron en los últimos días a las dos ciudades del nordeste de Brasil, entre las cuales un C-5 Galaxy de la Fuerza Aérea de Estados Unidos (USAF).
También se pudo ver la llegada de un avión de fabricación china Shaanxi Y-8, perteneciente a la flota de la Aviación Militar Bolivariana, nombre oficial de la Fuerza Aérea de Venezuela.
A estas dos aeronaves se sumaron algunos F-16 estadounidenses, así como aeronaves IA-58 Pucará y A-37 Dragonfly de Uruguay, además de los Súper Tucanos de Ecuador.
Como ejercicio previo al inicio oficial de CRUZEX Flight 2013, aviones de guerra de Brasil y Colombia volaron juntos el pasado sábado y, por primera vez entre estas dos fuerzas aéreas, traspasaron combustible a 5.000 metros de altura de unas aeronaves a otras.
La Aviación Miliar Bolivariana (AMB) participará en el ejercicio combinado con una flota de cinco cazabombarderos Lockeed Martin F-16 del Grupo Aéreo de Caza 16, más el apoyo del Y-8 del Grupo Aéreo de Transporte número 6.

Países y Aviones Participantes:

Brasil: 14 F-5M Freddom Fighter 7 AMX (A-1) 3 AMX-R (RA-1) 4 Mirage-2000C 5 A-29 Super Tucano 2 ERJ-145 AW&C (E-99) 4 UH-60L 4 Mi-35M (AH-2) 1 UH-1H 1 AS-332 Super Puma (H-34) 2 C-130 1 KC-130 2 C-235 1 C-295
Canadá: 1 CC-130J Hercules
Chile: 6 F-16 Fighting Falcon 1 KC-135
Colombia: 6 A-37 DragonFly 1 K-767
Ecuador: 3 A-29 Super Tucano
Estados Unidos: 6 F-16 Fighting Falcon 1 C-130H 1 KC-135
Uruguay: 3 IA-58 Pucara 3 A-37 Dragon Fly
Venezuela: 5 F-16 Fighting Falcon 1 Shaanxi Y-8

venezueladefensa

Colombian Air Force flies for first time at Ex Maple Flag

For the first time ever, the Colombian Air Force is participating in one of the greatest international operational training exercises, "Exercise Maple Flag", which is being held from May 27 through June 21 at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alta.
The FAC (Spanish acronym for Colombian Air Force), is bringing six A-29 Super Tucano combat aircraft, a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and a KC-767 refuelling aircraft to the exercise. This journey began on May 12 when the Super Tucanos and the Hercules, with support personnel on board, took off from Barranquilla, Colombia for a three-day, 20-hour, 6,700 kilometre journey from Colombia through Kingston, Jamaica; Homestead, Florida; Maxwell, Alabama; Scott, Illinois; Sioux Falls and Regina, Canada, to finally arrive in Cold Lake, Alberta.
The FAC was invited to attend Exercise Maple Flag as an observer nation in 2012. With commitment and responsibility, FAC Commander General Tito Saul Pinilla Pinilla accepted the invitation to underscore the FAC’s interest in developing a strategic vision, supported by increased levels of training related to combined operations, and with the goal of standardizing our procedures in accordance with NATO doctrine.
rcaf

RAF Eurofighters reached Malaysia with support from Italian Air Force KC-767

Four RAF Eurofighters from 1(F) Sqn have deployed to Malaysia with help from an Italian Air Force KC-767.

raf.mod.

Israel wins Brazilian bid for aerial refueling project

The Brazilian Air Force has selected Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for a large-scale aerial refueling project, according to a company statement released on Sunday.

The statement did not divulge the impending contract's estimated worth. It said that IAI will reconfigure several Boeing 767-300s into multi-mission aircraft capable of airborne refueling, strategic troop and cargo transport, and medical evacuation.

The Brazilian Air Force reported on its website over the weekend that it has chosen IAI's proposal over many other international companies that competed in the tender, with the contract's details expected to be finalized in the coming weeks. Several Brazilian industries will also be involved in the program as subcontractors, IAI said, adding that it will showcase its aerial refueling technology at the LAAD Exhibition that will kick off in Rio de Janeiro on April 9.

xinhuanet

La USAF retrasa hasta 2011 decisión sobre futuro avión cisterna (KC-X)/ 2011 US tanker decision delayed to 2011

La USAF decidirá en 2011 que avión sustituirá a sus anticuados KC-135 en la labor de cisterna, en lugar de la fecha límite marcada de 20 de diciembre de 2010.
EADS y Boeing están luchando encarnizadamente por este contrato por 179 aviones, el cual ganó la europea EADS junto a Northrop Grumman en 2008, pero que se canceló por apelación de Boeing al Congreso.
Actualmente Northrop no participa en el concurso (KC-X), programa que la USAF considera vital para su futuro.
EADS presenta un Airbus 330 modificado, mientras Boeing presenta un B767.
(lee más)
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The US Air Force said a final decision on a lucrative contract for a new aerial refueling tanker will be delayed until early next year, instead of a December 20 deadline.
The announcement marked the latest setback in a protracted contest that pits the US aerospace giant Boeing against rival EADS, the parent company of France-based Airbus.
Earlier this year, the Pentagon had promised to choose a winner in the contest in November and then had recently said it would declare a choice no later than December 20.
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) and Boeing are in a bidding war for the deal to replace 179 aerial refueling tankers in an aging Boeing-built fleet.
In 2008, EADS in partnership with Northrop Grumman won the contract for the tankers, but the deal was canceled after a successful Boeing appeal to the investigative arm of Congress.
Northrop has dropped out in the latest contest.
US Air Force commanders see the planned KC-X aircraft as crucial to bolstering American air power and are anxious to replace the older Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers that date back to the 1950s.
In the last competition, EADS and Northrop offered a modified Airbus 330, while Boeing proposed an altered 767 in its bid.
Members of Congress have lobbied heavily on behalf of the rival firms, hoping to secure coveted jobs in their states.
(read more)

BOEING ENTREGA EL CUARTO KC-767 A JAPON/BOEING DELIVERES 4TH KC-767 TO JAPAN

El pasado 8 de enero Boeing entregó el último de los 4 KC-767 contratados por el Ministerio de Defensa Japonés. Asignados al Ala 1 de Transporte de la Fuerza Aérea de Autodefensa de Japón (JASDF) en la base aérea de Komaki. El avión llegó a Japón el 20 de diciembre, procedente de la planta de Boeing en Wichita, Estados Unidos. Los tres primeros fueron entregados en Febrero y Marzo de 2008, y Marzo de 2009. La flota de Japón de KC-767 está siendo evaluada por la JASDF, y alcanzó la capacidad inicial operativa en Marzo de 2009. Boeing tambien tiene un contrato para suministra 4 KC-767 a la Aeronautica Militare Italiana, tres de los cuales ya están efectuando pruebas.

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Boeing Company on Jan. 8 delivered the last of four KC-767 aerial refueling tankers to the Japan Ministry of Defense.
Assigned to the 1st Airlift Wing of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force at Komaki Air Base, it is the third consecutive KC-767 tanker to be delivered to Boeing's Japan customer within the contracted schedule and budget.
The fourth tanker flew to Japan on Dec. 20 from Boeing's tanker modification facility in Wichita, Kan. The KC-767 is a military derivative of the proven 767-200ER commercial widebody airplane built at Boeing's commercial production facilities in Everett, Wash.
Boeing delivered the first three KC-767 tankers to Japan in February 2008, March 2008and March 2009.
The Japan KC-767 fleet is currently undergoing Operational Evaluation by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The fleet achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in March 2009.
Boeing also is on contract to deliver four KC-767s to the Italian Air Force. Three of the four tankers are in flight test.