Results tagged “Air Force” from Biz Waves

This may be the most politicized defense contract in recent history.

Boeing tanker ally eyes $5 mln per plane Airbus duty

WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - A Boeing Co (BA.N) ally in Congress urged the Pentagon on Wednesday to add as much as $5 million per plane to a rival trans-Atlantic team's bid to supply new U.S. mid-air refueling aircraft.

Rep. Norm Dicks, a member of the House of Representatives Defense Appropriations subcommittee, floated the figure as part of a renewed push by Boeing's political backers, aimed at factoring a September interim global trade ruling into the tanker contract battle.

Read more on the Air Force Tanker Contract.

El Segundo's Space and Missile Systems Center will likely have a big role in such a review.

U.S.A.F. Launches Major Technology Review

(Aviation Week) In the midst of a deeply entrenched identity crisis, the U.S. Air Force is turning to technology as the potential answer to some of its problems.

Air Force Chief Scientist Werner Dahm is conducting a sweeping "Technology Horizons" study to lay out technological opportunities that could produce useful applications for the service.

"I don't think in the history of the Air Force we've been at a turning point like this. Maybe the closest was the Sputnik launch," Dahm tells Aviation Week. "What does the Air Force do when it is faced with a radically different future? Part of what it does is reach into its science and technology domain."

Read more on Air Force's technology review.

This could be serious. Will this latest tanker contest result in yet another reversal?

Northrop: Boeing has 'unfair' edge in tanker deal

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon has given Boeing Co. an "unfair" advantage in the latest competition for a troubled $35 billion tanker contract, a Northrop Grumman Corp. executive said Tuesday.

The Pentagon shared Northrop's pricing data from its previous bid with Chicago-based Boeing, but did not reveal Boeing's cost estimates to Northrop.

"It is fundamentally unfair, and distorts any new competition, to provide such critical information to only one of the bidders," Paul Meyer, a Northrop Grumman vice president, said in a statement. "The company will continue to work with its customer to fully resolve this issue."

Read more on the tanker contest.

This tanker contest will be the most talked-about aerospace contract for the next year or so.

EADS, Northrop May Have To Tweak Tanker Bid

PARIS (Dow Jones)--European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co NV (EAD.FR) and its U.S. partner, Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC), may have to revise their proposal for a U.S. military airborne refuelling tanker to take into account new technical requirements from the Pentagon, EADS' chief executive officer said Monday.

EADS and Northrop Grumman have teamed up to try to win a $40 billion contract to supply 179 airborne refuelling tankers against U.S. rival Boeing Co (BA). The Pentagon issued a new request for proposals for a plane, provisionally dubbed the KC-X, to replace its ageing fleet of KC-135 tankers.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of an event, Louis Gallois said the new requirements involve the mission systems capability of the aircraft that will win the contest some time next year.

Offering two different planes provides added flexibility because of the varied missions the tanker would go on. But wouldn't that increase the cost since two aircraft would have to be modified instead of just one?

Boeing may offer US Air Force two tankers

(Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) said it might offer a choice of its aircraft against a rival Airbus model in a renewed trans-Atlantic tussle to build a multibillion-dollar refueling fleet for the U.S. Air Force.

The Chicago-based aerospace giant said on Friday it was deciding whether to stick with its modified 767 tanker, which lost a previous, canceled competition to an Airbus A330 model, or go with a larger 777-based tanker -- or offer both.

Read more on Boeing's tanker bid.