Says Information From The Last Round Was Shared With Competitors

As the U.S. Air Force prepares for another round of bidding to replace the aging fleet of KC-135 aerial refueling tankers, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems sector vice president and general manager for the Advanced Technology and Programs Division Paul K. Meyer says the Air Force has given his company's information to Boeing, but has not made Boeing's information available to Northrop Grumman.

"Northrop Grumman's analysis of the U.S. Air Force's draft Request for Proposals is ongoing and the company looks forward to its discussions with the Air Force to better understand the customer's request, which will help shape the company's competitive response," Myers said in a statement released to the media Tuesday.

"Northrop Grumman continues to be greatly concerned that its pricing information from the previous tanker competition was provided by the Government to its competitor, Boeing. Access to comparable pricing information from Boeing has thus far been denied by the Pentagon. With predominant emphasis placed on price in this tanker re-competition and Northrop Grumman again proposing its KC-45 refueling tanker, such competitive pricing information takes on even greater importance. It is fundamentally unfair, and distorts any new competition, to provide such critical information to only one of the bidders. The company will continue to work with its customer to fully resolve this issue."

FMI: www.northrop-grumman.com