Defense Secretary Considering Tanker Redo
This could last a long time to shake out.
No decision yet on US air tanker purchase: GatesWASHINGTON (AFP) -- US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said Thursday that he has not yet taken a decision on reviewing the 35-billion-dollar refueling air tanker deal feud between Boeing and Northrop Grumman, but acknowledged problems with the contract.
On June 18, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, backed a protest by US aerospace giant Boeing over the huge aerial refueling tanker contract awarded to rival Northrop Grumman and its European partner EADS, and recommended the US Air Force review the deal.
"I haven't made any decisions yet," Gates said. "But I would say that I take the GAO report very seriously. They've clearly pointed out some areas where we were deficient.
"We've clearly had problems with the tanker contract. And this time around is not the first time, obviously. And so, I think I need to get a better feel for the GAO report and for the criticisms and the nature of the criticisms that they have made."
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