Liebherr-Aerospace Onboard the KC-46 Tanker
A valve made by Liebherr for the KC-46 Nitrogen Enriched Air Inerting System
On January 10, 2019, the United States Air Force took delivery of the first KC-46 Tanker in Everett, Washington. The heavily modified 767 derivative incorporates a Nitrogen Enriched Air Inerting System (NEAIS) that includes regulation valves designed and manufactured by Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS (France), Liebherr’s competence center for air management systems. These valves monitor and regulate the nitrogen-enriched air that is ducted into the fuel tanks as they are emptied, replacing the fluid volume with inert air to prohibit ignition conditions.
The weight-optimized pneumatic valves were derived from existing components utilized in commercial aviation with a proven track record and adapted and qualified to the requirements of this aircraft.
Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH (Germany), Liebherr’s competence center for flight controls, landing gear systems, gears, gearboxes as well as electronics, is providing the refueling hose drum drive system being installed in the Cobham Mission Systems Air to Air Refueling POD for the KC-46.
Furthermore, Liebherr-Elektronik GmbH, Lindau (Germany), Liebherr’s competence center for electronic assemblies and components, has developed for the hose drum drive system a motor control electronic with dual redundant motor/brake control.
