Lockheed Martin Reveals LMXT Strategic Tanker Based on Airbus A330 MRTT

Lockheed Martin has unveiled LMXT being built in response to the U.S. Air Force's KC-Y Program.

The new tanker builds on the design of the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT). As the prime contractor, Lockheed Martin works directly to implement U.S. Air Force-specific requirements within the LMXT. As the strategic tanker of choice for 13 nations, the MRTT has logged more than 250,000 flight hours refueling U.S. and allied fighter, transport and maritime patrol aircraft in combat theater environments.

The LMXT complements the U.S. Air Force's tanker capabilities by providing the most advanced aerial refueler to meet America's immediate and long-term mission requirements. The LMXT strengthens and expands the U.S. aerospace industrial base by working with existing and new American suppliers.

The LMXT offers a proven airframe with distinct U.S. Air Force-only capabilities designed to meet operator requirements, with advantages that include:

• Significantly improved range and fuel offload capacity
• A proven fly-by-wire boom currently certified and used by allies to refuel U.S. Air Force receiver aircraft in operations around the world
• The world's first fully automatic boom/air-to-air refueling (A3R) system
• Operational and combat proven advanced camera and vision system
• Open system architecture JADC2 systems
• A multi-domain operations node that connects the LMXT to the larger battlespace, increasing onboard situational awareness to provide resilient communications and datalink for assets across the force