[PAR35]

The Air Force is doing all it can to keep capacity available.

Lockheed got the fighters, but lost the C-5 upgrade and the antisub. Boeing got the antisub and will probably get the C-17 deal, but lost the tankers. Now Northrop got the tankers, to keep them in the game for this round.

Last time around, Northrup got bombers, Lockheed got the cargo and anti-sub, and what is now Boeing had the fighters (and the tankers).

Something for everyone maintains at least a minimal strategic base.

[Paleo Conservative]

While I think the USAF will be getting the best tanker available four years from now, they really needed to have something available five years ago. As a result of not getting any new tankers, they've had to keep the ones they've got flying lots more hours than expected due to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The KC-135R's have to go into the depot for heavy maintenance every four or five years for something like 9 months. The GAO had a report suggesting that with about 430 KC-135R and C-135R aircraft in the USAF inventory that about 100 National Guard KC-135E's could be converted to KC-135R's and just get engines with planes entering depot maintenance. That way perfectly good CFM-56 engines wouldn't just be sitting on aircraft undergoing mainentance.

[NoLibZone]

"Lockheed got the fighters, but lost the C-5 upgrade and the antisub. Boeing got the antisub and will probably get the C-17 deal, but lost the tankers. Now Northrop got the tankers, to keep them in the game for this round.

Last time around, Northrup got bombers, Lockheed got the cargo and anti-sub, and what is now Boeing had the fighters (and the tankers).

Something for everyone maintains at least a minimal strategic base."

Which of the above projects were made in partnership with a foreign nation?

I'd like 100% of the project made in Alabama.