By
Mobile Co. Commission Press Office
.
Published: Wed, July 09, 2008 - 1:49 pm
Mobile County Commissioners remain confident that the new fleet of Air Force refueling tankers will be built at Brookley Field.Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced today that a limited re-solicitation process will take place based on seven issues raised in a Government Accountability Office review of the overall procurement process. Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 tanker was selected by the Air Force in February. Boeing protested to the GAO with only seven of 111 complaints being sustained.
“It’s important to remember that the GAO’s findings were based on procedural issues and not on the merits of the planes,” said Mobile County Commissioner Mike Dean. “The KC-45 remains the better tanker.”
Mobile County Commission President Stephen Nodine is encouraged by today’s decision.
“We’ve already won the competition once, and we will again,” said Nodine. “I respect the step that Secretary Gates has taken and I’m confident that the ultimate decision will be based on what’s best for the American war fighter and not on politics.”
The Pentagon indicated a final decision now could come as early as December.
“It’s very positive that we aren’t going through a total re-bidding process,” said Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood. “The military has waited long enough to get these planes.”
The commissioners are encouraging people along the Gulf Coast to continue to support the KC-45 by going to the county’s website, keepourtanker.com. The site provides daily updates on the tanker issue and allows KC-45 supporters to sign on on-line petition. More than 40,000 have done so.
“The fight isn’t over,” said Nodine. “Everyone needs to stay informed and engaged.”
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what fight. boeing is walking away with this. i would love to see a real fight to keep the tanker and give the military the aircraft they chose to begin with.