Auditors deny U.S. Aerospace protest of tanker bid

Published 10:14 am Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Government auditors have rejected claims made by U.S. Aerospace against the Pentagon in an attempt to be considered for a lucrative tanker contract.

U.S. Aerospace, which had teamed up with Ukraine’s Antonov, had wanted to compete for a $35 billion contract to supply the U.S. Air Force with aerial refueling tankers. Both the Boeing Co. and Airbus’ parent company, EADS, are vying for the contract.

Earlier this year, the Air Force rejected U.S. Aerospace’s bid, saying the company missed the deadline. The California-based U.S. Aerospace made numerous allegations against the Air Force, including that personnel gave the aerospace company’s delivery person bad directions. U.S. Aerospace filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office.

Today, the GAO denied U.S. Aerospace’s claims, essentially keeping the company out of the tanker contest.

The Air Force is expected to name a contract winner later this year.