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Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft
Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) is the name given to a British project to procure a fleet of Airbus A330 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) aerial refuelling (AR) and air transport (AT) aircraft for the Royal Air Force (RAF), to replace their then existing older models such as the Vickers VC10s and Lockheed TriStars.
After evaluation of bids, the Royal Air Force selected the AirTanker consortium, owned by Cobham plc, EADS, Rolls-Royce plc, Thales UK and VT Group plc, in 2004 offering the Airbus A330 MRTT.
The project was to provide a replacement of the Royal Air Force's fleet of Vickers VC10s from 2008 and the Lockheed TriStars around 2012. The need for a new fleet of air-to-air refuelling aircraft was first identified in 1997. The chosen aircraft were to operate from the same RAF air transport hub, RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire as the replaced aircraft.
The use of a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) rather than outright purchase by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was chosen in 2000. Under the PFI, the Royal Air Force (via the MoD) will pay for aerial refuelling and air transport missions as required. The Royal Air Force will continue to retain responsibility for all military missions, whilst the contractor will own, manage and maintain the aircraft, and also provide training facilities and some personnel. The private company will also be able to earn extra revenue by using aircraft for commercial operations when not required by the Royal Air Force; the most suitable of which would be leased air-refuelling missions for other European air forces. The RAF however will always have the 'first call' on aircraft, being able to mobilise the entire fleet in times of crisis.
Final bids for the project were received from the two competing consortia on 30 April 2003.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 26 January 2004 that Air Tanker had been selected to enter into final negotiations to provide the RAF's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA).
Following aircraft selection, the MoD began exclusive negotiations with the AirTanker consortium. However, beginning in April 2004, there were rumours about the fragile state of the contract negotiations. With continuing doubts over the FSTA programme, Marshall Aerospace, responsible for the conversion of the RAF's original TriStars, offered to buy and convert some of the large number of surplus commercial TriStars.
On 28 February 2005, the MoD named AirTanker as its preferred bidder for the £13 billion contract.
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Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft
Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) is the name given to a British project to procure a fleet of Airbus A330 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) aerial refuelling (AR) and air transport (AT) aircraft for the Royal Air Force (RAF), to replace their then existing older models such as the Vickers VC10s and Lockheed TriStars.
After evaluation of bids, the Royal Air Force selected the AirTanker consortium, owned by Cobham plc, EADS, Rolls-Royce plc, Thales UK and VT Group plc, in 2004 offering the Airbus A330 MRTT.
The project was to provide a replacement of the Royal Air Force's fleet of Vickers VC10s from 2008 and the Lockheed TriStars around 2012. The need for a new fleet of air-to-air refuelling aircraft was first identified in 1997. The chosen aircraft were to operate from the same RAF air transport hub, RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire as the replaced aircraft.
The use of a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) rather than outright purchase by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was chosen in 2000. Under the PFI, the Royal Air Force (via the MoD) will pay for aerial refuelling and air transport missions as required. The Royal Air Force will continue to retain responsibility for all military missions, whilst the contractor will own, manage and maintain the aircraft, and also provide training facilities and some personnel. The private company will also be able to earn extra revenue by using aircraft for commercial operations when not required by the Royal Air Force; the most suitable of which would be leased air-refuelling missions for other European air forces. The RAF however will always have the 'first call' on aircraft, being able to mobilise the entire fleet in times of crisis.
Final bids for the project were received from the two competing consortia on 30 April 2003.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 26 January 2004 that Air Tanker had been selected to enter into final negotiations to provide the RAF's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA).
Following aircraft selection, the MoD began exclusive negotiations with the AirTanker consortium. However, beginning in April 2004, there were rumours about the fragile state of the contract negotiations. With continuing doubts over the FSTA programme, Marshall Aerospace, responsible for the conversion of the RAF's original TriStars, offered to buy and convert some of the large number of surplus commercial TriStars.
On 28 February 2005, the MoD named AirTanker as its preferred bidder for the £13 billion contract.