Disputes Boeing Claims Of Bias In USAF Decision

In the weeks ahead, look for both Boeing and Northrop Grumman to step up their public statements regarding the US Air Force KC-X contract bid. The Government Accountability Office is due to rule on or before June 19 on a protest filed by the American planemaker, over the bid going to the Airbus-sourced KC-45A.

On Tuesday, Northrop Grumman released the first of what it says will be a regular series of "Why We Won" releases, to "provide detailed examples of why Northrop Grumman was selected, drawing on facts listed in a redacted version of a protected Air Force selection document."

The first of the series, entitled "Mission Capability," notes the Air Force determined the larger, A330-derived KC-45A provided several advantages over the smaller 767-based Boeing offering, including the ability to haul more fuel, and distribute it to more planes.

According to Northrop, the Air Force found the KC-45A provided "Better fuel offloads at all distances from bases," "Better air refueling efficiency," "Better offload rate and receive rate," and has "A greater boom envelope vs. Boeing."

In a written explanation of the Air Force thinking on this subject, Sue Payton, the Air Force's chief acquisition officer, said the USAF determined the KC-45A provided "significant refueling advantages," adding the plane's "refueling capability was compelling to my decision."

"Northrop Grumman's offer was a superior solution to the air refueling requirement, which is a key performance parameter," Payton wrote.

As ANN reported Monday, Boeing's defenders in Congress want the KC-X award to be overturned... despite what Northrop terms "the clear inferiority" of the Boeing offering, compared to the KC-45A.

Northrop also asserts Boeing disagrees with the Air Force formula for air refueling efficiency, that determined the KC-45A was six percent more efficient in relation to fuel delivered versus fuel consumed -- "so [Boeing] invented their own.

"There's a word for that, but it's not patriotism," the Wall Street Journal recently wrote, according to Northrop.

FMI: www.northropgrumman.com/kc45/, www.globaltanker.com