Air Force to delay tanker decision — updated

Published 11:35 am Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The U.S. Air Force will not announce the winner of a multi-billion dollar tanker contract by the end of the year as previously planned, according to a report published this morning in the Air Force Times.

Boeing has pitted its KC-767 aerial refueling tanker against Northrop Grumman-EADS’ KC-30 tanker for the contract. The companies submitted their proposals to the Air Force back in April. The agency had planned to announce a winner this fall but delayed the decision until late December or early January.

Air Force officials are briefing Congress this morning about the status of both the tanker contract and a $15 billion helicopter deal the agency awarded to Boeing last year. That contract has been protested by Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky Aircraft.

UPDATE: The Air Force has announced it will rebid the helicopter contract previously awarded to Boeing. All three companies will need to submit new bids by mid-November.