The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing its third low-rate initial production aircraft lot after the successful refueling test flight of Boeing KC-46A tanker aided with Rockwell Collins’ Remote Vision System (RVS). The order includes 15 KC-46A aircraft as part of the plan to replace the Air Force’s tanker fleet. First deliveries of the KC-46A will begin later this year.
“The cutting-edge technology developed for the RVS defies anything that’s previously been used for airborne refueling,” said Dave Schreck, vice president and general manager, Airborne Solutions for Rockwell Collins. “This technology resulted from the hard work and innovative spirit of dedicated, professional teams from Rockwell Collins, Boeing and the Air Force. It also wasn’t just the RVS. This productive, collaborative environment applies to the numerous systems we’re providing on the KC-46A.”
Apart from the RVS, Rockwell Collins provides integrated display system built on proven technology from the Boeing 787 program to deliver significantly higher levels of reliability and safety, A Tactical Situational Awareness System (TSAS) processor to provide situational awareness to the crew, routing cues to keep away from imminent threats in the area, and understanding of friendly entities, Signal data concentrator network, state-of-the-art communications, navigation, surveillance, networking, and flight control systems.
