The French aerospace company Safran Landing Systems has been awarded a US Air Force $220 million contract for KC-135 tanker aircraft landing systems remanufacture and supply, the US Department of Defense announced on October 3, 2018.

A USAF KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the 916th Air Refueling Wing takes off at Yokota Air Base, Japan, March 19, 2018
(Credit: U.S. Air Force/Yasuo Osakabe)

“This contract provides for a 10-year strategic remanufacture/supply for the KC-135 heat shields, main wheel, carbon brake, torque tube adjustor, assembly, and piston housing,” the US DoD said.

"Work will be performed in Vellzyvillacoublay, France, and is expected to be complete by September 2028. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. (…) Air Force Sustainment Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity,” the Pentagon added.

Safran is a world leader in landing and braking systems for both civil and military airplanes and helicopters, including: landing gear, wheels and brakes. Besides the KC-135, the company provides landing and braking systems for the Boeing C-17; Airbus A400M; and Embraer KC-390 military airlifters.

Besides landing gears and braking systems, Safran is also powering the USAF KC-135 fleet with the CFM56-2 engine, jointly produced with General Electric through the CFM International joint company.

The KC-135 entered service in 1957 with the United States Air Force, which maintains 153 aircraft in active duty.