The AirTanker consortium negotiating an airborne tanker deal using Airbus A330s with the British defense ministry has added support services provider VT Group as a shareholder. VT Group is taking a 10% stake in the venture. EADS is the largest stakeholder at 40%, followed by Rolls-Royce and Cobham with 20% each. The latter two gave up 5% each to make room for VT Group. Thales holds the remaining 10%. Protracted negotiations are slated to last until at least the fall. AirTanker representatives won't predict when a contract will be inked. The in-service date of 2009 so far hasn't slid; Air Tanker officials contend it potentially could be accelerated.
