Airbus will manufacture Lockheed Martin’s LMXT charging system in Arkansas

Lockheed Martin confirms that the refueling system of its strategic tanker LMXT will be produced from Airbus in western Arkansas, USA.

The exact location of the production site has not yet been determined.

Confirmation comes after the two companies recently announced plans to expand their presence in Georgia and Alabama to support the configuration and assembly of the LMXT.

Based on the design of the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), the LMXT offers a variety of options tailored to the needs of the United States Air Force (USAF).

The LMXT aircraft will offer an established air refueling boom used by Allied nations to refuel USAF aircraft during global missions.

Jeffrey Knittel, Chairman and CEO of Airbus Americas, said: “We are excited to continue to expand our presence in the United States by partnering with Arkansas to establish the LMXT refueling facility and center of excellence.

“State-of-the-art boom systems are a vital aspect of the LMXT’s overall offering, and we are proud to work with Arkansans to build this best-in-class US Air Force solution.”

Lockheed Martin unveiled the LMXT aircraft last September for the US Air Force (USAF) Strategic Tanker Program KC-Y.

The tanker will be built in two phases, which include the production of LMXT as an A330 aircraft at the Airbus facility in Mobil, Alabama.

In the second phase, the commercial aircraft will be converted into an LMXT tanker at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facility in Marietta, Georgia.

This phase will also include the assembly, configuration and integration of the Arkansas-built boom.