AERONET LA RESPUESTA TECNOLÓGICA A LA CADENA DE SUMINISTRO

PROGRAMS
Spain could rent the A330MRTT due to delay in the purchase of three units
The Spanish Air Force is considering hiring on lease (rent to own) one or two refueling aircraft to meet the delay in
the acquisition of three A330MRTT, whose contract remained pending in the previous legislature. As reported by
the newspaper El País, The Spanish Ministry of Defence and Airbus DS had virtually closed the purchase of three
MRTT, since probably the last Boeing 707 of the Spanish Air Force with refueling capacity will cease next summer its
operational service. However, the agreement with Airbus DS is not closed yet due to the objections of the Ministry
of Finance in the form of payment. So the Spanish Air Force plans to rent some tankers until the signing of the contract.
The operation could be done through Air Tanker, a company participated by Airbus with other major European
aerospace companies. Air Tanker already rents Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) to the Royal Air Force (RAF).
ms of the auxiliary industry are directly involved in the
A380 programme, as well as other companies involved
in the supply chain with outsourced works. Airbus has
sold to date 317 A380 aircraft, regardless ANA’s order,
and has delivered a total of 179 units.
SALES
Airbus has sold to date a total
of 317 A380 aircraft. The forecast is that
ANA will begin using the three aircraft
ordered in 2018
Eight A330 MRTT more for France
But the A380 is not the only Airbus programme that has
received a boost in recent weeks. The European manufacturer
has received a firm order from the French Defence
Procurement Agency (DGA) for a further eight A330 MRTT
Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft. The aircraft constitute
the second tranche of the multi-year contract for 12 A330
MRTTs, signed by the French Ministry of Defence in November
2014 and brings the total firm order to nine. The
remaining three are scheduled to be confirmed in 2018,
permitting deliveries of the 12 aircraft before 2025.
The first A330 MRTT will be delivered to France in 2018,
followed by the second in 2019, and the remainder at
a rate of one or two per year. This is other Airbus programme
with a significant participation of the Andalusian
companies, especially from the auxiliary industry.
Among others, the firm Airgrup provides hydraulic pipes
and the refueling boom; or the MDU engineering, which
develops a “fly by wire” joystick-type control system.
The Airbus DS Tablada site participates in the construction
of the plane and is responsible for the assembly of
the Aerial Refueling Boom System (ARBS).
The A330 MRTT, which has already been tested in various
operations, has been ordered so far by seven countries
(Australia, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates, Singapore, Qatar and France). A total of firm orders
for 49 aircraft, of which 26 have been delivered.
© Airbus
Un avión A330MRTT. An A330MRTT aircraft.
FEBRERO 2016
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