Military Certified Formation Flying System for KC-30 Tanker

Reduces Risk for the KC-30 Tanker by Leveraging Tested, Proven and Certified Technology From an Industry Leader in Advanced Avionics

Currently Being Installed On the C-17 and Approved for Use On All Military Aircraft

Honeywell System Enhances Safety During Flight Operations

MELBOURNE, Fla: Northrop Grumman Corporation's KC-30 Tanker team is leveraging Honeywell's FAA-certified Military Airborne Collision Avoidance System - Formation Rendezvous (MILACAS-FR) for the KC-30 Tanker.

The MILACAS-FR system will enhance accuracy and safety during flight formations by detecting nearby aircraft and evaluating their threat potential to the KC-30. The system provides traffic alerts and maneuvering advisories to help pilots avoid mid-air collisions and fly in tight formations -- operations inherent to the mid-air refueling mission.

``The KC-30 Tanker is the most advanced air refueling tanker ever built, and integrating proven, FAA-certified military systems like the MILACAS-FR, will ensure the warfighter receives the very best technology available,'' said Paul Meyer, vice president and general manager of the KC-30 program. ``Selecting certified systems also reduces risk and ensures our deliveries remain on schedule.''

Honeywell's MILACAS-FR system was certified for use on all military aircraft earlier this year and is currently being installed on other air mobility aircraft. Honeywell employees in Arizona, New Mexico and Florida are supporting the KC-30 Tanker program.

Northrop Grumman's KC-30 Tanker carries 45,000 more pounds of fuel than a KC-135 or any competitor, providing a significant boost to the U.S. Air Force's global reach. The KC-30 is also designed to refuel Navy and coalition aircraft, and to serve as a multi-role transport aircraft to move passengers, cargo and medical evacuation patients. The KC-30 incorporates defense systems, precision fly-by-wire technology, and the ability to integrate a communications suite and a global support network.

The KC-30 will be assembled in Mobile, Ala., and create or support more than 25,000 U.S. jobs. It will be built by a world-class industrial team led by Northrop Grumman, and includes EADS North America, General Electric Aviation, Honeywell and Sargent Fletcher.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $30 billion global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.