Defence

Decision could boost A330 bid in Australia

PETER LA FRANCHI / CANBERRA

AirTanker's win in the UK's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft contest is expected to bolster the prospects for the Airbus A330-200 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT)in Australia's Project Air 5402 in-flight refuelling competition.

EADS Casa is leading the Australian bid, with in-country support from EADS/Qantas Defence Services subsidiary Australian Aerospace. Boeing is offering new-build 767-200s. The Australian Defence Materiel Organisation's Air 5402 project office aims to complete tender evaluations by the end of this month. A source selection recommendation will go to government for approval in late March.

According to Aldo Borgu, an analyst with the Australian Defence Strategic Policy Institute, "prior to the Royal Air Force decision, Boeing would have been seen to have the inside running, because of the close relationship between Australia and the US Air Force. The Airbus decision opens that up a lot wider." The A330's greater lift capacity could also provide a higher-end strategic deployment capability, he says, although there is "inconsistent position coming out of government" on Australia's overall requirements.

Australia wants to finalise contracts with a bidder by June, with an initial operational capability to be in place by mid-2007. EADS Casa has offered to supply the Royal Australian Air Force with five A330 MRTTs and an initial three years of maintenance support for less than the A$1.7 billion ($1.3 billion) currently allocated by the government.