DoD still expects tanker contract this month

[unhappycamper]

DoD still expects tanker contract this month
By JOHN T. BENNETT and GAYLE S. PUTRICH - Staff writers
Posted : Tuesday Feb 12, 2008 17:48:08 EST

Pentagon officials have delayed a crucial review of the Air Force’s plans to purchase new aerial tankers from Boeing or a Northrop Grumman/EADS team, but a top defense acquisition official says he still anticipates that a winner will be announced by the end of this month.

Lawmakers’ lingering questions about the service’s KC-X program prompted Pentagon acquisition officials to postpone a Defense Acquisition Board review slated for Feb. 13, said James Finley, deputy undersecretary of defense for acquisition and technology. Defense acquisition officials received some additional “inquiries from the Hill and elsewhere” about the service’s closely watched KC-135 tanker replacement program and opted to delay the DAB review, he said. Finley said he is unaware of a new date for that review.

“The timing is a little unsettled on that right now,” Finley said at an Aviation Week-sponsored conference in Washington.

He said he anticipates the air service will award a contract for 179 flying gas stations by the end of this month.

The years-long march to a KC-X contract has pitted Boeing’s KC-767 aircraft against the KC-30, a plane being offered by Northrop Grumman and EADS.


Article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/02/dn_tanker_0212/