Thu, Dec 20, 2007
KC-X Saga Could Continue Well Into New Year
If you were looking for a speedy resolution to the ongoing saga
of the US Air Force KC-X Tanker competition... don't bet on it.
Comments made by a senior Air Force official Thursday indicate the
issue may still be up in the air, so to speak, into spring
2008.
"We'll take whatever amount of time it takes to get to the right
answer," top USAF acquisition officer Lt. Gen. Donald Hoffman told
reporters Thursday, according to Reuters. "Sure, there's a
reasonable chance" it will slip beyond the latest end-February
target, he added.
The Air Force is looking to replace its aging fleet of KC-135
tankers with modern twinjets, based on either the Boeing 767 or
Airbus A330 commercial airliners.
Boeing already had Congressional approval on a deal in 2003 to
sell and lease 100 KC-767s to the Air Force for about $23.5
billion. But the deal was put on hold after Pentagon officials
learned former USAF chief negotiator Darleen Druyun accepted a job
as Boeing vice president before the deal was consummated. She later
pleaded guilty to criminal charges.
Boeing fired both her and the man who hired her, Chief Financial
Officer Michael Sears. Shortly after that, CEO Phil Condit abruptly
resigned.
As it did in 2003, Boeing is fielding its KC-767 for the latest
competition. A partnership between Northrop Grumman and EADS
answered the challenge with the KC-30, a derivative of the
Multi-Role Tanker Transport Aircraft. Both entities submitted bids
on the contract in April 2007.
More News
Takeoff Roll The process whereby an aircraft is aligned with the runway centerline and the aircraft is moving with the intent to take off. For helicopters, this pertains to the act>[...]
“We’re proud of the hard work that went into receiving this validation, and it will be a welcome relief to our customers in the European Union. We couldn’t be mor>[...]
"Aircraft Spruce is pleased to announce the acquisition of the parts distribution operations of Wag-Aero. Wag-Aero was founded in the 1960’s by Dick and Bobbie Wagner in the >[...]
IDENT Feature The special feature in the Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS) equipment. It is used to immediately distinguish one displayed beacon target from other be>[...]
Aero Linx: Pararescue Air Force Pararescuemen, also known as PJs, are the only DoD elite combat forces specifically organized, trained, equipped, and postured to conduct full spect>[...]