Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft

Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft
Royal Air Force Airbus A330-203 at Airbus factory of Getafe, Spain
Project for	aerial refueling tanker aircraft
Service	Royal Air Force
Outcome	AirTanker consortium's Airbus A330 MRTT selected

Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) is a British project to procure Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport aerial refuelling (AR) and air transport (AT) aircraft for the Royal Air Force, to replace ageing VC10s and TriStars.

After evaluation of bids the RAF 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 RAF'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 purchase was chosen in 2000. Under the PFI the RAF will pay for aerial refuelling and air transport missions as required. The RAF 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 RAF — 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 FSTA.

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