New Tanker Contract Two Years Away

Northrop Grumman Air Force It will be another two years before we know if the new Air Force refueling tankers will be built in Mobile.

by Reuters

Published: Wed, December 10, 2008 - 5:10 pm CST

WASHINGTON, Dec 10 (Reuters) - The United States will take at least two more years to start replacing its aircraft-refueling fleet after seven years of failed efforts, the head of a House of Representatives subcommittee with responsibility for defense spending said on Wednesday.

A team of Northrop Grumman Corp and Europe's EADS beat Boeing Co for the projected $40 billion first phase of the project in February. But Boeing has been given a second chance under the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama, after its protest was upheld by a congressional umpire.

"It will take at least another two years, at minimum, before we begin to start procurement of a replacement tanker," Rep. John Murtha, who heads the Appropriations subcommittee on defense, said in remarks prepared for a discussion on military priorities at the Center for American Progress think tank.

Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat, said the Defense Department had "wasted" the past seven years in its botched efforts to procure a replacement for the KC-135 fleet that averages nearly 50 years old.

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rosepetal Says:

Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 1:06 am

oh we will have a military, it might not be american. rest assure there will be a military here. could be russian. its to much like it was right before pearl harbor.

BamaBob Says:

Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 6:19 pm

There is a Chicago way of doing business in this country and Boeing’s headquarters is smack dab in the middle of the windy city.

We really won’t need a military after the seas are parted on January 20th and there is suddenly peace and harmony all over the world…..

Sirk Says:

Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 6:11 pm

I agree with you BamaBob. We probably will not have a military to fly these things anyway by that time. Unless of course its for the muslims to use.

BamaBob Says:

Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 6:03 pm

I wouldn’t be betting on this one in 2 years.

justme Says:

Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 5:43 pm

Thank You Boeing for putting Our Brave Troops on the back burner. You Should be so Proud and take out ads telling our Troops and the World how much you Don’t care for Our Troops or Our Country and the the $$$$$ is all your interested in, so the few that don’t know it yet will at least see that you are Honest in Your Desires