Time Is Ticking On Tanker Deal

By Tiffany Craig Investigative Reporter

We are hours or maybe days away from learning the winner of the giant Air Force Tanker contract. Time Is Ticking On Tanker Deal

Published: Mon, February 25, 2008 - 6:35 pm

Tiffany Craig

The biggest military contract in decades is still without a winner tonight but a decision is expected this week.

Northrop Grumman and their partner EADS are going head-to-head with Industry favorite Boeing to win a 40 billion dollar deal. The Air Force is looking for a company to build their new fleet of air refuelers. All bids are in and the winner will be decided by the Defense Acquisition Board in Washington.

Boeing KC-767 might be favored to win but the EADS/Northrop team is putting up a good fight with the KC-30. If the KC-30 wins the prize, 15-hundred jobs will be up for grabs at a new 600 million dollar facility at Mobile's Brookley Field.

Marc Pelham with the Mobile Airport Authority says everybody is waiting on pins and needles. "We've got a lot emotionally invested a lot of time and money and we're all anxious to find out about it but we're also anxious for it to be done."

Mobile County Commissioner Steve Nodine says he's confident the delay means good news for the area. "We hope it's in our favor. We hope that maybe there's been a change of mind maybe a split contract maybe they have rethought what they believe is in the best interest and changed their mind."