Free Republic

The US Air Force will release on Wednesday the final terms for a 35-billion-dollar competition to replace the country's aging fleet of aerial refueling tankers, a US defense official said. The move marks the latest attempt by the Pentagon to build new tanker aircraft in a project marred by controversy and scandal dating back to 2001. The final request for proposal was expected to be issued on Wednesday after the close of US markets, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP on Tuesday. The lucrative competition pits Airbus parent EADS and its partner Northrop Grumman against arch-rival...