UPDATED: WSJ reports Northrop wins tanker deal
Friday, February 29, 2008 | 8:54 am
UPDATE: The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Air Force has awarded a $40 billion aerial refueling tanker contract to Northrop Grumman and EADS, not the Boeing Co. as widely anticipated.
The U.S. Air Force has scheduled a press conference for 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to announce the winner of the $40 billion tanker contract.
From the Department of Defense press release:
Tanker Contract Award Announcement
Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Duncan J. McNabb will announce the KC-X contract award winner at 5 p.m. EST, Feb. 29, in the DoD Briefing Studio, Pentagon 2E579.
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition Sue C. Payton and Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, commander of Air Mobility Command, will answer questions following the announcement.
This could be the day the U.S. Air Force finally announces the winner of the tanker contract.
A Pentagon spokesman told Reuters that it's a "good possibility" the announcement will be made today.
The suspense has been building all week with a new twist surfacing just yesterday. The Air Force may have made a late change to the tanker contact criteria, Reuters reported, citing unnamed sources. The change resulted in Northrop Grumman's KC-30 receiving a lower score. It isn't known how the change impacted the Boeing Co.'s KC-767.
Local analyst Scott Hamilton noted the change, if true, gives the loser a basis for a protest, which is already likely. Hamilton calls the last-minute maneuver a "dumb, dumb move."
What do you think?
The U.S. Air Force has scheduled a press conference for 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to announce the winner of the $40 billion tanker contract.
From the Department of Defense press release:
Tanker Contract Award Announcement
Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Duncan J. McNabb will announce the KC-X contract award winner at 5 p.m. EST, Feb. 29, in the DoD Briefing Studio, Pentagon 2E579.
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition Sue C. Payton and Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, commander of Air Mobility Command, will answer questions following the announcement.
This could be the day the U.S. Air Force finally announces the winner of the tanker contract.
A Pentagon spokesman told Reuters that it's a "good possibility" the announcement will be made today.
The suspense has been building all week with a new twist surfacing just yesterday. The Air Force may have made a late change to the tanker contact criteria, Reuters reported, citing unnamed sources. The change resulted in Northrop Grumman's KC-30 receiving a lower score. It isn't known how the change impacted the Boeing Co.'s KC-767.
Local analyst Scott Hamilton noted the change, if true, gives the loser a basis for a protest, which is already likely. Hamilton calls the last-minute maneuver a "dumb, dumb move."
What do you think?
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