Cobham Mission Equipment has been selected by Boeing to provide Body Fuel Tanks in support of the US Air Force's KC-46 Tanker Programme. The Body Fuel Tanks enable KC-46A mission capability by providing additional fuel for offload and increased range. The engineering manufacturing development (EMD) phase began in January 2012, with low-rate and full-rate production through 2028.

The US Air Force plans to initially acquire 179 KC-46A Tankers from Boeing, each of which is expected to carry a quantity of four each of the Cobham Body Fuel Tanks. Work will take place at Cobham Mission Equipment's centre of excellence in Davenport, Iowa.

The Davenport facility is a leader in the aircraft fuel tank market and has been identified as a Principal Location under Cobham's Excellence in Delivery Programme.

"Cobham is delighted to be working with Boeing to support the KC-46 programme," said Iain Gibson, vice president of Cobham Mission Equipment. "Cobham's experienced engineering and programme team will design and deliver an innovative Body Fuel Tank design that achieves the technical and schedule demands of the program."

Cobham is a key supplier to Boeing on several systems vital to the KC-46 programme. In

July 2011 Cobham Mission Equipment at Davenport was also awarded two subcontracts by Boeing related to the hose and drogue aerial refuelling system that will be used on the KC- 46A tanker aircraft. The contracts relate to the EMD phase of the program, including development hardware. Cobham expects to equip each aircraft with a centreline drogue system. Approximately 30 tankers will also be provided with a pair of wing-mounted aerial refuelling pods.