Global security and aerospace company, Lockheed Martin on Monday, announced that the LMXT strategic tanker aircraft will be manufactured in Mobile, Alabama, and Marietta, Georgia.
Introduced in September 2021, the LMXT is Lockheed Martin's offering for the US Air Force's KC-Y 'Bridge Tanker' Programme competition.
Lockheed Martin and Airbus entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in 2018 to explore aerial-refuelling solutions to address any refuelling capacity shortfalls for the US Air Force, with the MRTT at the centre of its discussions. The LMXT results from this MOA, offering a proven airframe with distinct US Air Force-only capabilities built by a highly skilled American workforce in two states that lead the nation in aerospace manufacturing.
The LMXT represents the newest chapter in Lockheed Martin's 60-plus year history of producing and delivering tanker and large aircraft for the US Air Force, US Marine Corps, US Navy and multiple operators worldwide. Built on the combat-proven design of the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), the LMXT leverages known performance and capability insights from the strategic tanker of choice used by 14 nations worldwide to currently refuelling fighter, transport and maritime patrol aircraft for the US and allied partners.
The LMXT will be built in two phases, with Lockheed Martin as the prime contractor. Under phase 1, the LMXT is first produced as an A330 airliner at Airbus' Mobile, Alabama, facility, where Airbus A320 and A220 commercial airliners are built, beginning with the A320 in 2015.
The second phase of the manufacturing process includes converting the commercial aircraft into the LMXT tanker at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics' Marietta, Georgia, facility, which is currently home to the C-130J Super Hercules final production and F-35 Lightning II centre wing assembly lines.
James Taiclet, Chairman, President & CEO, Lockheed Martin, said, 'The LMXT will strengthen global security by enabling our US service members to carry out their most critical missions at extended ranges. At home, the LMXT will strengthen job growth and manufacturing by drawing on the experience and talents of a high-tech American workforce in two states that are proven leaders in aviation.'
C Jeffrey Knittel, Chairman and CEO, Airbus Americas, said, 'Our US workforce, which is more than 35% military veterans, is eager to see an Air Force tanker join the fleet of Airbus aircraft flying for the US Army, National Guard, Navy and Coast Guard.'