KC-45A Air Force refueling tanker aircraft

The selection of Northrop Grumman Corp. to build the next-generation air-refueling tanker aircraft followed a fair competition and was based on the merits of the proposals submitted, a senior Defense Department official told reporters today.

he Boeing Company filed a formal protest yesterday asking the Government Accountability Office to review the decision to contract with Northrop Grumman to build up to 179 KC-45A aircraft over the next decade.

Northrop Grumman partnered with Airbus to compete against Boeing Corp. for the $35 billion contract. FULL TEXT AT http://rncnyc2004.blogspot.com/2008/03/defense-department-stands-by-tanker.html

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Defense
• Department
• Northrop
• Grumman
• KC-45A
• Air
• Force
• refueling
• tanker
• aircraft
• Boeing
• Corp.

[Permafrost38]

so- are you americans quite angry that EADS got the "jackpot" and not Boeing?

[sookietex]

hey Permafrost38, not me, we got the best tanker at the best price. for me working with our allies is a bonus.

[yoyoyoyoshua]

@YanYan1337 same

[YanYan1337]

I dont like it ill take my beautiful KC-135 over this...thing anyday

[jmkpns]

How long has the DC-10 flown? Remember the DC-10 is the aircraft that the liberal media tried to kill in the 70's and it's still flying today! This attack on Airbus reminds me of the good ol' 70's when it's a flying dumpster if it's not a Boeing. Like the DC-10 vs L1011, the A330 has a range and payload advantage over the 767. Not a Boeing hater either I liked the 787.

[c300pilot]

So- are you Europeans enjoying using the BOEING 707 frame as your tanker aircraft?

How old are the Boeing airframes? How reliable have they been? Let us not forget that the KC-135 was a retro-fitted tanker using the Boeing 707 airframe.

So why not trust the Boeing 707 would preform just as good as the old 707. Also from what I've been told the 767 has a better break-away speed over the Air-Bus entry.

[cali22boi]

As long as the EADS can get the much more stable "flying boom" system correct its fine by me. It sure as hell beats the cheap ass probe-basket refueling.