With the decision on a multi-billion dollar contract with the U.S. Air Force expected next month, the two major competitors are making sure they get noticed this week. Both the Boeing Co. and partners Northrop Grumman-EADS made note of progress on their aerial refueling tankers.
On Monday, EADS sent out a press release that flight-testing of its A330-based tanker for Australia “has continued at a face pace.” Northrop-EADS pitched a similar tanker to the U.S. Air Force and proposed to assemble it in Alabama.
“We are on track and proud of the results we are getting, right in line with our expectations. We are becoming a reference in the air-to-air refuelling technology and systems with the market’s acknowledgement”, said Carlos Suarez, head of EADS military transport aircraft division.
In turn, Boeing announced Tuesday that its 767 tanker (for Japan) had completed its first nighttime fuel transfer on Jan. 26, according to a press statement. Boeing would build its 767 in Everett with workers in Wichita installing the military applications.
“Our next step is to complete the remaining Federal Aviation Administration certifications and deliver two new tankers to Japan early this year,” said George Hildebrand, Boeing KC-767 Japan program manager.
Reuters noted Boeing’s delays in delivering Japan’s first tanker. The company is more than two years late in the delivery but says the lessons it has learned in building the Japan tanker will make the U.S. tanker assembly go more smoothly. Northrop-EADS suggests Boeing’s struggles with the Japan tanker should be taken seriously by the Air Force.
In today’s 2007 earnings call, Boeing’s Jim McNerney said he expects to hear from the Air Force by the end of the first quarter.
“We believe the KC-767 is the best match for the Air Force,” he said.
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