[blam]

I hope this isn’t related to the awarding of the new tanker contract to Northrup-Grumman/EADS and not to Boeing.

[r9etb]

I hope this isn’t related to the awarding of the new tanker contract to Northrup-Grumman/EADS and not to Boeing.

Doubtful. Sounds more like irreconcilable differences over larger policy/strategy issues.

If I had to guess, it's resistance to some sort of proposed change in mission capabilities and/or force structure.

One possibility: the USAF has been dragged over the coals for its poor performance in managing and fielding high-dollar space programs. Could be that Gates is looking at giving some of those programs away to some other organization....

[norton]

Acquisition was also mentioned in an earlier TV report but no depth or expansion.

If anything, AF should be ripped on the process used to award tanker contract - whether it's the right AC or not aside and benefits to Alabama aside (?) the award was a foregone conclusion.

That said, AF has always believed itself to be above the herd and has always been dominated by techies, nukes, and fighter pilots. I can easily imagine them dragging their feet on non piloted platforms that mere ground pounders would control.

[irishtenor]

I hope it is!

(35 yr Boeing man :>)