Cobham to Supply Boeing with OBIGGS for KC-46A

02 August 2012

Cobham to Supply Boeing with On-Board Inert Gas Generating System Equipment for US Air Force KC-46 Tanker Programme

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Cobham has been selected by Boeing to provide On-Board Inert Gas Generating System (OBIGGS) equipment for use on the US Air Force's new KC-46A Tanker Aircraft.

The OBIGGS fulfils a critical aircraft safety system role by displacing fuel tank vapours with inert nitrogen gas, reducing the risk of explosion. Cobham will provide the Air Separation Modules, ozone filter and sensor sub-system for the OBIGGS. The Engineering Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase started January 2012 with low-rate and full-rate production through 2028.

The US Air Force plans to initially acquire 179 KC-46A tanker aircraft from Boeing, each of which will carry Cobham-supplied OBIGGS equipment. Work will take place at Cobham Life Support's centre of excellence in Davenport, Iowa.

"Cobham's proven experience on military programmes provides Boeing with a high performance product with low technical risk to ensure the best overall value," said Kelly Coffield, president of Cobham Life Support. "Cobham is the world-wide leader in military OBIGGS providing solutions since 1985 on more than 3,000 aircraft flying today, ranging from military transport aircraft and helicopters, to regional and commercial platforms such as the B787, with more than five million flight hours total experience. Cobham's qualified staff can tailor the modular range of proven OBIGGS to fit a wide range of applications."

Cobham is a proud supplier to Boeing on several key systems vital to the KC-46A, with two other subcontracts for the hose and drogue aerial refuelling and body fuel tank systems. All equipment will be manufactured by Cobham Mission Equipment at its site in Davenport, Iowa.

About Cobham

Cobham specialises in meeting the demand for data, connectivity and bandwidth in defence, security and commercial environments. Offering a technically diverse and innovative range of technologies and services, the Group protects lives and livelihoods, responding to customer needs with agility that differentiates it. The most important thing we build is trust. Employing more than 10,000 people on five continents, the Group has customers and partners in over 100 countries.

About Cobham Life Support

Cobham Life Support specialises in life support and personal survival equipment systems including oxygen systems for aviators and astronauts, crew restraints, flotation gear and crew and cargo release mechanisms. Manufacturing personal and on-board systems, Cobham Life Support provides military helicopter pilots and US armoured vehicle crews with liquid-cooled vests to increase endurance in the heat of battle, protects aircraft fuel tanks against fire on military and commercial aircraft and generates on-board oxygen on more than 2,500 military aircraft, to reduce aircraft reliance on bottled systems. The Cobham Life Support cryogenic cooling systems enable infrared electro-optical equipment in missile seekers, targeting systems, aircraft defensive countermeasure systems, and night vision equipment.

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