The UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD) has awarded a contract worth 170 million pounds (equivalent to about 200 million euros) to AirTanker Ltd to update the UK’s fleet of Voyager tanker aircraft (Airbus A330 MRTT) in order to address the issues of obsolescence of the onboard systems.
The program, known as Voyager Operating System Evolution (VOSE), involves the design and development of a new mission system for the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) of the Royal Air Force (RAF).
The scheduled update includes the integration of vital components for secure communications and interoperability, such as the MIDS/JTRS system.
The contract has been awarded by the UK MoD according to single source tender rules to AirTanker Ltd UK, as the only organisation that fulfils the necessary requirements to perform the program.
The RAF has in service a total of 14 Voyager KC2 and KC3, managed jointly with AirTanker Ltd; the KC2s are equipped exclusively with two underwing pods while the KC3s are equipped with underwing pods and a central refuelling station also with a flexible hose; one of the KC2s has been refitted to perform state transport.
Source: UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD)
Photo credit: @Royal Air Force (RAF)
