It’s also notable that there was a long political fight over KC-135 replacement, with options offered by both Boeing and Airbus which has much delayed ending the tanker problem. An Airbus, non-union, plan was picked at one time, then McCain and others got the issue re-opened for Boeing. I don’t recall what’s happened since and I lack the expertise to know which of the competing stories are truly best for the mission. I just see the politics and am disgusted to see the marginal at best status quo extended.
I do not politicize my job, Madame
Off topic.
Hard to say which is really the “best” but there was a lot of hanky panky going on. The first proposal was to lease a long term asset from Boeing... pretty dumb to me.
The whole tender process was screwed up leading to further delays.
The Boeing offer seemed more robust than the Air Bus offer and that is who is supposed to build the airplanes eventually.