While the final decision hasn’t yet been announced, it appears the Pentagon may want French aerospace workers – not Americans – to build the next generation of aerial refueling tankers for the Air Force.
According to numerous industry and military sources, the U.S. Air Force is planning to announce a winner for its KC-X aerial replacement tanker competition as soon as this week.
Boeing is proposing a version of the 767 while EADS is offering a modified Airbus A330. The source selection relies heavily upon the bidders’ prices, and up to 179 tankers will be purchased to begin replacing the aging KC-135.
Click here to support the selection of the U.S.-built Boeing tanker.
The decade-long tanker replacement effort has been marred by scandal, bid protests, award reversal and, most recently, a data swap mishap that saw bidders receiving their competitor’s information.
