EADS signs 27-year, $26.4 billion military tanker deal with British MoD
28 Mar 2008
Paris: European Aeronautic Defence & Space (EADS), the European parent of Airbus, has landed a 27-year aircraft refuelling contract with the United Kingdom's ministry of defence, potentially worth as much as $26.4 billion. The ministry of defence said the deal was signed Thursday in London.
Under the deal (See: EADS set to close UK's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft deal) a consortium led by EADS will supply the Royal Air Force with 14 new A330-200 aircraft.
The aircraft will be owned by the consortium AirTanker and will provide air-to-air refueling and passenger air transport services. Aside from EADS, the consortium includes Thales SA, Cobham Plc, Rolls-Royce Plc and VT Group Plc.
AirTanker is dedicated exclusively to providing the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) to the UK ministry of defence under what it describes as the world's largest Defence Private Finance Initiative contract. The service will deliver a service that provides comprehensive air-to-air refuelling and air transport capabilities to the RAF, using new Airbus 330-200 tanker transport aircraft.
The aircraft are expected to enter service around 2011.
