Britain’s A330 Voyager FSTA: An Aerial Tanker Program – With a Difference

Back in 2005, Great Britain was considering a public-private partnership to buy, equip, and operate the RAF’s future aerial tanker fleet. The RAF would fly the 14 Airbus A330-MRTT aircraft on operational missions, and receive absolute preferential access to the planes. A private contractor would handle maintenance, receive payment from the RAF on a per-use basis – and operate them as passenger charter or transport aircraft when the RAF didn’t need them.
The deal became politically controversial, and negotiations on the 27-year, multi-billion pound deal charted new territory for both the government, and for private industry. Which may help to explain why a contract to move ahead on a “Private Financing Initiative” basis had yet to be issued, and procurement had yet to begin, over 7 years after the program began. In March 2008, however, Britain issued the world’s largest-ever Defence Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract. This FOCUS Article describes the current British fleet, the aircraft they chose to replace them, how the new fleet will compare, the innovative deal structure they’ve chosen, and ongoing FSTA developments.
A330-200 MRTT: The RAF’s Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft
UK FSTA: Program Details & Industrial Team
UK FSTA: Contracts & Key Events
2020
2018
2015 – 2017
2013 – 2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2006 – 2007
2000 – 2005
Appendix A: PFI – The Art of the Deal
Appendix B: Britain Former Refueling Fleet
Tri-version TriStars
VC10s: Distinctive, but Discontinued
Additional Readings & Sources
Background: A330 Voyager Tanker/ Transports
Background: FSTA Program
Background: Britain’s Other Tankers
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