Boeing Awarded $81 Million Contract For KC/RC-135 Re-Engine Work
The U.S. Air Force has awarded The Boeing Company an $81 million contract for manufacture of re-engine kits for KC-135 and RC-135 aircraft.
The contract provides for fabrication and assembly of re-engine kits for four KC-135 Stratotanker and two RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft. The contract also includes funding for Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) efforts associated with fabrication of the RC-135 kits.
"Boeing is pleased to have the opportunity to continue our long-running re-engine work on the KC-135 and we are especially excited to be starting re-engine efforts on the RC-135," said Randy Eno, Boeing Tanker Programs manager.
The re-engine kits include new engine struts and nacelles, structural fittings, wiring harnesses and hardware necessary to replace the current JT-3D engines with quieter, more fuel-efficient CFM-56 engines. Installation of the re-engine kits will be funded under a separate contract.
Completion of the kits included in this award will bring the total number of KC-135 re-engine kits produced by Boeing to 433 since the program began in 1982. This contract marks the first production of RC-135 kits. To date, Boeing has installed re-engine kits on 415 KC-135 aircraft.
Work will be performed at Product Support Division facilities in Wichita.
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