Page 66 - Leverage and Learn

Leverage Allied Investments and Combat Learning Experience in Modernizing the U.S. Military

[caption id="attachment_72716" align="alignnone" width="300"]

Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft maintenance crew prepare to launch
the jet at dusk, commencing another mission refuelling Coalition aircraft over Iraq. Credit: Australian MOD,
11/24/14

After my recent visit to the Albacete Air Base in Spain, I visited the Airbus Defence and Space facility in
Madrid, namely the Getafe facility. I had a chance to discuss the baseline and the way ahead with the head
of the tanker program, namely, Antonio Caramazana.

I first met Antonio Caramazana at an Airbus Defence and Space (then Airbus Military) Trade Media brief for
the media in 2010. That briefing which he gave only six years ago shows how far the tanker has come in only
six years.

http://www.sldinfo.com/an-update-on-the-a330-mrtt-2010/
We started by getting an update on the status of the tanker and discussing the baseline.

We then went on to discuss the evolution of the aircraft from a platform to a fleet, with the inherent
opportunities to shape a global fleet solution.

Question: Certa 2016, what is the current status of sales and operational experience of your tanker?

Antonio Caramazana: We have delivered 28 tankers to date.

We have delivered 14 to the UK; 5 to Australia; 6 to Saudi Arabia and 3 to the UAE.
These aircraft already integrated into operations.

The fleet is operating and is demonstrating its value added.

And all are operating in the Middle East, which has provided a significant opportunity for the users to gain
joint knowledge about the tanker and its capabilities.

They are even doing combined operations in a number of cases.

Second Line of Defense

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