U.S. Air Force Tanker Award will be Announced Thursday [Roundup, Murray threatens protest]

defpro.com Defence Professionals ^ | February 23, 2011 | Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D.

[wolf78]

The U.S. Air Force will announce the winner of the $35 billion KC-X tanker contract on Thursday, February 24 after financial markets close. Judging from the frequency with which Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter has been talking up the notion of a "globalized" defense market recently, European aerospace giant EADS is the winner.

[...]

From http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110223/NEWS01/702239828: Sen. Murray says Air Force tanker decision may come Thursday Sen. Patty Murray says she "won't tolerate" the Air Force choosing EADS over Boeing for the contract. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray expects the Pentagon to announce Thursday its choice between the Boeing Co. and the parent company of Airbus for the $35 billion contract to build 179 Air Force aerial refueling tanker planes.
The Air Force has scheduled a call with Murray on Thursday afternoon, after the financial markets close, said her spokesman, Matt McAlvanah.
At a visit to the Everett Vet Center on Tuesday, Murray said she is nearly sick over concern about the contract award.
"I can't believe our country would make a decision to go with a company based in a foreign country. I won't tolerate it," Murray said of European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS), the Airbus parent that is offering an A330-based tanker. Boeing is offering the Air Force a tanker based on the 767 jetliner built in Everett.

Further info: Tanker Announcement Coming Earlier Than Expected
Pentagon to announce tanker winner soon

[wolf78]

FYI

[wolf78]

ping

[Yo-Yo]

All signs point to the EADS tanker being selected (again.)

Award the damn contract and get on with it.

[RayChuang88]

I still think it'll end up with the Northrup-Grumman KC-45 contract for these reasons:

1) The A330-200 is a well-proven design in production since the middle 1990's.
2) The plane has way more cargo and fuel capacity than the Boeing proposal.
3) The plane could better accommodate a militarized version of the General Electric GENx engine if needed.
4) Production will still be done in Mobile, AL. Airbus will shift all A330-200F production to the Mobile plant, and this may entice major air cargo carriers like UPS, FedEx, DHL, Europe's TNT Airways and several cargo airlines on the African continent to buy a large number of Mobile-assembled A330-200F's to replace obsolete cargo planes.

[Bean Counter]

I see. So can I expect Patty Murray to lead the storming of Olympia at the head of her Union Brothers and Sisters that work for Boeing?

Such farce. Why have a bidding process in the first place?

[BrewingFrog]

I still wonder why Boeing didn’t base their bid on the 777 airframe as opposed to the older, smaller 757.

Oh, well. They have only themselves to blame.

[BobinIL]

Let me guess, Boeing will be awarded this contract. After all, they are a Chicago based company now.

[djf]

Murray is a spent hen.
Where’d I put that bag of charcoal....???

(but even though she’s old and wasted, Boeing Aircraft Company still manufactures THE BEST planes and avionics in the world!!)

[DuncanWaring]

Boeing based their bid on the 767.

Because the Air Force said they didn’t want an airplane as big as a 777.

[BrewingFrog]

I see.

Thanks!

[wolf78]

Boeing based their bid on the 767. Because the Air Force said they didn’t want an airplane as big as a 777.

Also because it doesn't make much economic sense. The 777 is a very modern aircraft with tremendously expensive engines, which in turn safe fuel costs if you use the aircraft almost 24/7 like airlines do. For a tanker it makes more sense to have simpler airframe as a basis.

Also, the 767 is going out of production soon, so with development and equipment cost paid for, it is cheaper to just keep the line open instead of using an aircraft that still gets a lot of civilian orders like the 777. Same for the A330 which is on the passenger side is going to be replaced with the A350. The A330 is then going to be a freighter foremost and Airbus wants to move the production line for the freighter / tanker to the US.

[MHalblaub]

Will be announced on Thursday?
Which year?