EADS Achieves Key Milestones in Advanced Military Tanker Aircraft Development; Successes Support Northrop Grumman's KC-30 Program.

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The first A330 aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force's Multi-role Tanker Transport (MRTT) program has rolled off the production line and completed initial evaluations, and the advanced fly-by-wire refueling boom that will equip it has recently concluded a preliminary series of in-flight tests. These two milestones are important steps in meeting both U.S. and international aerial tanker program requirements.

EADS North America is a teammate and principal subcontractor on the Northrop Grumman KC-30 Advanced Multi-role Tanker Transport (AMTT) team that is seeking to support the U.S. Air Force's KC-135 tanker fleet recapitalization. EADS also has been selected by the Royal Australian Air Force and the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force to provide military refueling aircraft systems.

"Both program achievements reflect EADS' technical progress in supporting the Northrop Grumman-led industrial team, which is offering the most capable tanker to meet the U.S. Air Force's aerial refueling requirements of today and tomorrow," said EADS North America Chairman & CEO Ralph D. Crosby, Jr. "As with the A330 MRTT selected by two of America's closest allies, the KC-30 Advanced Multi-role Tanker Transport offers the best-value solution to the U.S. Air Force - combining superior performance in its aerial refueling role with exceptional operational flexibility for cargo, passengers and aeromedical evacuation missions."

The first A330 for the Royal Australian Air Force performed validation tests this month. These tests included flying in a receiver position behind a French Air Force C-135FR tanker.

With these successful evaluations completed, the A330 will be painted in Royal Australian Air Force livery in May, and then delivered to EADS' Military Transport Aircraft Division for modification into the MRTT configuration. The RAAF has ordered five A330 MRTTs, with the first scheduled for delivery in 2008.

Separately, the EADS Boom System has successfully completed its first phase of full-scale flight tests. These evaluations validated the boom system in its stowed position on an A310 test bed aircraft, clearing the way for follow-on flights that will include refueling capability demonstrations.

Developed in a nearly $100 million company-funded effort, this revolutionary boom system uses fly-by-wire controls to provide highly accurate and reliable in-flight refueling. It has been ordered for the Royal Australian Air Force's A330 MRTTs, and also will equip the KC-30 AMTT proposed for the U.S. Air Force by the Northrop Grumman industry team.

The boom system incorporates an automatic load alleviation system and an independent disconnect function, along with redundant actuation systems and power supplies. It provides a larger refueling envelope with better controllability than other refueling booms.

An integrated 2-D and 3-D stereoscopic enhanced vision system is incorporated in the boom system for day/night missions. The boom system's advanced features will allow it to refuel all suitably-equipped receiver aircraft, and the boom is easily adaptable to future mission requirements - including the refueling of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). An intelligent control system enables automatic configuration for each type of receiver aircraft.

About EADS North America (www.eadsnorthamerica.com)

EADS North America is the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. As a leader in all sectors of defense and homeland security, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute over $8.5 billion to the U.S. economy annually and support more than 174,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services. With 11 operating companies located in 30 cities and 15 states, EADS North America offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.