BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE

Version of new airliner among future concepts from company and Lockheed Martin

Boeing and Lockheed Martin are studying several concepts for a next-generation in-flight refuelling aircraft, including a potential tanker variant of the former's 7E7 airliner.

Senior vice-president and general manager of Boeing air force systems George Muellner says Boeing's defence team has worked with the company's 7E7 design team from the beginning of the project, and has already provided tanker specifications for a military variant.

"Our defence side has looked at the aircraft," says Muellner, but notes that Boeing's "focus is still on the 767 as a tanker". The company's selection to supply the USAir Force with 100 KC-767As is the subject of ongoing reviews, and it recently announced job losses caused by a slowing of development work on the system while these processes are conducted.

Muellner says a 7E7 tanker will not be available until at least 2013-14. The first passenger 7E7 is due to enter service in 2008, but this variant is not considered ideal for tanker applications. Subsequent variants are more suited for conversion, he says.

Boeing's Phantom Works operating unit is looking at a blended wing body tanker concept as part of a demonstration study being pursued with the UK's Cranfield Aerospace (Flight International, 3-9 February).

Muellner says this aircraft would offer "truly efficient cruise performance", fly at a very long range and potentially be equipped with multiple booms.

Boeing has discussed possible ways forward with the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and NASA, but the project is still in the early stages. "It's still way more than 10 years downstream," Muellner says.

Lockheed Martin executive vice-president Dain Hancock says his company has several potential tanker concepts on paper that it is prepared to pursue if the USA opens a contest for a new-generation tanker.

"We continue to assess various opportunities to potentially engage in the tanker market should it become competitive, particularly in the USA," Hancock says. He notes that the export market alone is probably not large enough to persuade Lockheed Martin to launch a tanker programme.

Hancock says Lockheed Martin is not interested in pursuing a tanker partnership with EADS, which was recently named preferred bidder to meet the UK's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft requirement.

Source: Flight International