ST. LOUIS The Boeing Company announced today that Texas will benefit from approximately 2500 jobs with 17 suppliers and an estimated $125 million in annual economic impact if Boeings NewGen Tanker is selected by the U.S. Air Forces as its next aerial refueling aircraft. Boeing currently has more than 5000 employees in Texas and works with 1300 suppliers-vendors across the state resulting in some $1.9 billion in annual economic impact.
The Texas aerospace and defense industrial base is committed to providing critical components and technologies for the Boeing NewGen Tanker that will equip our brave servicemen and women with the best tanker in the world said Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
Texas manufacturers ready to produce critical components on the NewGen Tanker include:
- Parker Aerospace Fort Worth and Mansfield fluid conveyance systems including hoses tubes and fittings
- Vought Aircraft Industries Grand Prairie aft body section pressure bulkhead and horizontal stabilizer.
The NewGen Tanker is a widebody multi-mission aircraft based on the proven Boeing 767 commercial airplane and updated with the latest and most advanced technology. Capable of fulfilling the Air Forces needs for transport of fuel cargo passengers and patients the combat-ready NewGen Tanker is being offered as a replacement for 179 KC-135 aircraft.
Boeing is writing a proposal to meet or exceed the 372 mandatory requirements described in the services final KC-X Request for Proposal released on Feb. 24.
The Air Force is expected to award a contract later this year.
The NewGen Tanker will be made with a low-risk approach to manufacturing that relies on existing Boeing facilities in Washington state and Kansas as well as U.S. suppliers throughout the nation with decades of experience delivering dependable military tanker and derivative aircraft.
Nationwide the NewGen Tanker program will support approximately 50000 total U.S. jobs with Boeing and more than 800 suppliers in more than 40 states.
The Boeing NewGen Tanker also will be more cost-effective to own and operate than a larger heavier tanker. It will save American taxpayers more than $10 billion in fuel costs over its 40-year service life because it burns 24 percent less fuel than the competitors airplane.
Boeing has been designing building modifying and supporting tankers for decades. These include the KC-135 that will be replaced in the KC-X competition and the KC-10 fleet.
A unit of The Boeing Company
Boeing Defense Space & Security is one of the worlds largest defense space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions and the worlds largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft.
Headquartered in St. Louis Boeing Defense Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68000 employees worldwide.
More information including video clips and an interactive tour of the aircraft visit
www.UnitedStatesTanker.com or
www.RealAmericanTankers.com.
