ghorn
Outfitting in Hamburg
Posts: 993
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Post by ghorn on Dec 18, 2014 18:26:32 GMT 1
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s543
in service - 2 years
Posts: 3,959 
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Post by s543 on Dec 18, 2014 19:23:19 GMT 1
I was afraid of that. Since the prediction is that KC46 will reach hefty 400-600 orders it will make HUGE difference.
Anyway just a small gimick.
Thanks for your efforts Geoff.
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philidor
in service - 6 years
Posts: 8,950
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Post by philidor on Dec 19, 2014 0:13:28 GMT 1
I was afraid of that. Since the prediction is that KC46 will reach hefty 400-600 orders it will make HUGE difference. I would not bet on it. The US military budget is under financial pressure, all programmes are kept alive by coalitions of interests, so the best that can be done is to kick the can down the road. Meanwhile the planned number of combat aircraft keeps decreasing, and fewer fighters need fewer tankers. |
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Baroque
in service - 2 years
Posts: 3,991
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Post by Baroque on Dec 19, 2014 0:22:42 GMT 1
I was afraid of that. Since the prediction is that KC46 will reach hefty 400-600 orders it will make HUGE difference. Anyway just a small gimick. Thanks for your efforts Geoff. I thought the USAF needed a total of 179 frames in the end. Where are the rest coming from???  Meanwhile the planned number of combat aircraft keeps decreasing, and fewer fighters need fewer tankers. Actually, I think we'll see more drone warfare in the future. |
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s543
in service - 2 years
Posts: 3,959
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Post by s543 on Dec 19, 2014 0:55:38 GMT 1
Various numbers were written over time.... As always - we will see  |
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philidor
in service - 6 years
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Post by philidor on Dec 19, 2014 1:04:20 GMT 1
I thought the USAF needed a total of 179 frames in the end. Where are the rest coming from??? 179 is the size of the present contract, but there is widespread speculation that the USAF needs - and eventually will buy - much more, possibly through a non-competitive deal (to have one type of tanker only). I mentioned budget constraints and other priorities to put a question mark on this speculation ... |
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Baroque
in service - 2 years
Posts: 3,991
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Post by Baroque on Dec 19, 2014 2:22:18 GMT 1
Alright, so looking at the current USAF fleet, they have a total of 417 KC-135s. They have another 59 KC-10, but it is speculated they will be kept until 2043. According to this flightglobal article, Boeing is supposed to deliver 18 combat ready KC-46s by 2017. The USAF, if it exercises ALL its options, will get a total of 179 delivered by 2028. The question is, will Boeing really keep the 767 line open beyond that? |
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s543
in service - 2 years
Posts: 3,959
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Post by s543 on Dec 19, 2014 9:00:35 GMT 1
There was written they plan to replace all the KC135 until 2030. The question is if they will replace also the reserve ones. There is now 348 in active duty and others on reserve. Than the KC10 ?
I.e. they can live with much less tankers then they do now, or some of the CFM56 reengined newer KC135 will stay.
There are some other nations who want to buy few pcs....
I would believe it is all together going to be more than 179 in grand total. Probably less than 400-600 what I have written. It was a number from some article I remembered, but I can not find it now.
I do believe Boeing will be happy to maintain 767 production line as long as there is demand. As easy as that. Each one piece brigs them money for using assembly rigs long time ago completely paid for.
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philidor
in service - 6 years
Posts: 8,950
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Post by philidor on Dec 19, 2014 10:05:57 GMT 1
The USAF, if it exercises ALL its options, will get a total of 179 delivered by 2028. Are you sure the contract includes options ? It has been described as a unique fixed quantities/fixed price deal. |
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Baroque
in service - 2 years
Posts: 3,991
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Post by Baroque on Dec 19, 2014 15:28:23 GMT 1
Are you sure the contract includes options ? It has been described as a unique fixed quantities/fixed price deal. As far as I know, from reading some other articles as well, the initial batch is a small number due to be delivered by 2017. Orders for further tranches will then be made afterwards. |
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