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Voyager tanker enters final trials phase

16 August 2011

Following the arrival in the UK of the first two Voyager A330 Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) earlier this year, AirTanker (of which Thales UK is a shareholder) is putting the aircraft through the final testing phase in Boscombe Down.

Working in conjunction with the Royal Air Force (RAF), this phase involves receiver clearance trials, a series of flight and ground tests that will prove the aircraft’s capability to refuel the RAF’s fast jets (such as the Tornado) and large aircraft (such as the Sentry). Delivery of the first aircraft to the RAF is due to take place on schedule towards the end of this year.

Meanwhile RAF pilots have flown in Voyager for the first time, alongside Airbus Military pilots. Additionally, the second batch of RAF engineers have entered their training programme, run by AirTanker and Thales UK, in the recently completed training centre at Voyager’s main operating base at RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire.

Thales UK has also recently delivered the ground mission planning system (GMPS) for Voyager, which will be installed at RAF Brize Norton. A further six transportable systems will be supplied to give secure telecommunications to Voyager’s main operating bases worldwide.

Victor Chavez, Chief Executive, Thales UK, says: “Voyager is a real success story and Thales UK is immensely proud to be part of the team that is delivering this much-needed capability.”

Thales UK is responsible for providing the mission simulators, defensive aids, avionics and mission planning systems for the FSTA programme.

The FSTA programme will provide the RAF with a safe, efficient and reliable air-to-air refuelling and air transport service. Using 14 new, specifically converted aircraft based on the A330-200 commercial airliner, the programme will also cover all aspects of an integrated aircraft service over a 24-year period, ranging from the provision of the infrastructure - including a two-bay hangar and associated office accommodation - and a full-flight crew and engineer training service, to aircraft maintenance, despatch and ground support.

- Ends -

Notes to editors

1. AirTanker Services is an SPV company that was created in 2008 to deliver the FSTA service to the UK Ministry of Defence, which will provide the RAF with a reliable, safe and efficient air-to-air refuelling (AAR) and air transport (AT) service over 24 years.
2. The FSTA service will use 14 new, specially converted, state-of-the-art A330-200 aircraft, each of which will be capable of carrying passengers with associated freight or aero medical patients in addition to its AAR role. As well as reducing overall running costs and significantly improving reliability, the aircraft will have considerably less impact on the environment than its predecessors. The first aircraft is due to be delivered towards the end of 2011.
3. The FSTA programme covers all aspects of an integrated aircraft service, ranging from the provision of the infrastructure, a full flight crew and engineer training service, through to aircraft maintenance, despatch and ground support. It will combine best practice from civil aviation with RAF operational expertise and military ethos to create a most efficient and effective operational solution for the RAF.
4. The FSTA service will be provided by AirTanker Services under fixed-pricing arrangements with clear performance indicators. The MoD will only pay for the service once it is available and then only for the capacity that it uses, subject to agreed minimum usage levels.
5. AirTanker Services is contracted to operate the service from AirTanker Ltd, who hold the contract from the MoD. AirTanker Services has five shareholders, who are also primary sub-contractors for the programme. They are: EADS (aircraft manufacture and initial conversion via Airbus Military); Cobham (refuelling equipment and aircraft conversion); Rolls-Royce (engine assembly, support and project management); Thales UK (mission simulators, defensive aids, avionics and mission planning systems); and Babcock (infrastructure and communications/information systems, design, build and support, and certain elements of technical support to the aircraft).
6. AirTanker will create and sustain high-value, high-quality UK jobs. The FSTA programme will directly sustain up to 3,000 jobs and indirectly sustain up to a further 4,500 jobs.

About Thales and Thales UK
Thales is a global technology leader for the defence & security and the aerospace & transport markets. In 2010 the company generated revenues of £11.2 billion (€13.1 billion), with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 22,500 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners.

Thales UK employs 8,000 staff based at 35 locations. In 2010 Thales UK’s revenues were around £1.5 billion.