Copy of a post I just made on iHub where a number
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Posted On: 01/23/2020 6:25:43 PM
Copy of a post I just made on iHub where a number of non-experts on AAR were getting a bit confused as to where $TMPS fits into the worldwide contracted out AAR business sector:
I have already explained this multiple times both on the main forum and here but it is complicated if you don't know the ins and outs of it (pun intended) so here is a quick refresher !
Short version:
The $TMPS ex-RAF Tristars are "probe and drogue" only.
US DoD needs "probe and drogue" tankers for all USN and USMC types that are receivers + certain Special Operations aircraft operated by various branches of the US military.
The USN and USMC do not have enough tanker assets to fulfill their requirements - so a portion of the required AAR mission is provided by the USAF using either probe and drogue adaptors on the flying boom or - on a very limited number of aircraft - underwing probe and drogue pods (in addition to the flying boom on the rear of the aircraft fuselage).
With its ongoing tanker problems for the next 50 years, anything that can be done to reduce the USAF provision of probe and drogue missions to the USN / USMC needs to be done - particularly in the benign / no threat areas of routine training, trials, overseas exercise / training deployments, aircraft deliveries to foreign countries etc.
Hence the increased allocation of tanker hours in the current extended Omega contract and the draft for new MAC that will replace it.
Potential probe and drogue receivers outside the USA are NATO nations that already operate or will in the future operate the F-35B (Short Take-Off Vertical Landing version) as used by the USMC, RAF, RN and some smaller nations with suitable ships.
As the USMC does not have any state-of-the-art F-35B optimized aircraft carriers - and as the RAF/RN can only afford a multi-year low buy rate of the F-35B - an agreement was signed 10 years ago for the USMC to form part of the UK-led Carrier Air Wing on the 2 x HMS Queen Elizabeth Class carriers. First deployment will be in 2021 with 8 x USMC + 8 x UK aircraft - working up to 12 + 12 in future years.
As part of this deployment strategy, the USMC F-35Bs will have to be tanked from the USA to the UK both for pre-deployment workup training at the UK Main Operating Base RAF Marham (Fall 2019) and possibly also to join the ship - and then also to recover to the USA several months later.
For the USN 2020 MAC (by definition - at least 2 companies) the only potential providers immediately available are Omega and $TMPS. In the longer term, Airbus might consider bidding with new build / reworked aircraft like the A330 MRTT (turbofan - as used by the RAF) or A400M MRTT (turboprop - as going to be used by some smaller NATO countries).
For any USAF contract - which would be primarily for "flying boom" aircraft - $TMPS would not be a contender unless it was decided that a major industry player - such as Airbus - would take on all contracted out activity and buyout or subcontract the smaller players like Omega and $TMPS. Anything like that would be several years in the making.
The only contractor owned "flying boom" aircraft in the USA are the 2 ex-Royal Netherlands Air Force KDC-10s that have recently been bought upon retirement and the first of which was delivered in October 2019.
I have already explained this multiple times both on the main forum and here but it is complicated if you don't know the ins and outs of it (pun intended) so here is a quick refresher !
Short version:
The $TMPS ex-RAF Tristars are "probe and drogue" only.
US DoD needs "probe and drogue" tankers for all USN and USMC types that are receivers + certain Special Operations aircraft operated by various branches of the US military.
The USN and USMC do not have enough tanker assets to fulfill their requirements - so a portion of the required AAR mission is provided by the USAF using either probe and drogue adaptors on the flying boom or - on a very limited number of aircraft - underwing probe and drogue pods (in addition to the flying boom on the rear of the aircraft fuselage).
With its ongoing tanker problems for the next 50 years, anything that can be done to reduce the USAF provision of probe and drogue missions to the USN / USMC needs to be done - particularly in the benign / no threat areas of routine training, trials, overseas exercise / training deployments, aircraft deliveries to foreign countries etc.
Hence the increased allocation of tanker hours in the current extended Omega contract and the draft for new MAC that will replace it.
Potential probe and drogue receivers outside the USA are NATO nations that already operate or will in the future operate the F-35B (Short Take-Off Vertical Landing version) as used by the USMC, RAF, RN and some smaller nations with suitable ships.
As the USMC does not have any state-of-the-art F-35B optimized aircraft carriers - and as the RAF/RN can only afford a multi-year low buy rate of the F-35B - an agreement was signed 10 years ago for the USMC to form part of the UK-led Carrier Air Wing on the 2 x HMS Queen Elizabeth Class carriers. First deployment will be in 2021 with 8 x USMC + 8 x UK aircraft - working up to 12 + 12 in future years.
As part of this deployment strategy, the USMC F-35Bs will have to be tanked from the USA to the UK both for pre-deployment workup training at the UK Main Operating Base RAF Marham (Fall 2019) and possibly also to join the ship - and then also to recover to the USA several months later.
For the USN 2020 MAC (by definition - at least 2 companies) the only potential providers immediately available are Omega and $TMPS. In the longer term, Airbus might consider bidding with new build / reworked aircraft like the A330 MRTT (turbofan - as used by the RAF) or A400M MRTT (turboprop - as going to be used by some smaller NATO countries).
For any USAF contract - which would be primarily for "flying boom" aircraft - $TMPS would not be a contender unless it was decided that a major industry player - such as Airbus - would take on all contracted out activity and buyout or subcontract the smaller players like Omega and $TMPS. Anything like that would be several years in the making.
The only contractor owned "flying boom" aircraft in the USA are the 2 ex-Royal Netherlands Air Force KDC-10s that have recently been bought upon retirement and the first of which was delivered in October 2019.
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A very apposite motto for those who trade successfully in the OTC market..
All posts are my opinion - trade at your own risk.