Air Force: No tanker pricing shared with Boeing, EADS

Published 8:51 am Tuesday, November 23, 2010

The Air Force didn’t share sensitive pricing information with Boeing or EADS when it mixed up the tanker competitors documents.

After admitting last week that the Air Force sent the wrong discs to the two contractors competing to supply the Air Force with refueling tankers, the Pentagon said today that pricing information was not on the discs.

Boeing and EADS are bidding for a contract worth at least $35 billion to replace 179 Eisenhower-era aerial refueling tankers. The Air Force had been expected to pick a winner for the tanker contract this year but has pushed that decision back to 2011.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, told reporters today that the information on the discs was the Air Force’s analysis of how the proposed tankers would perform in refueling scenarios. The agency sent Boeing information on how EADS’ A330-based tanker would perform and sent EADS info about Boeing’s 767-based tanker performed.

The analysis did not contain pricing data, he said.

Schwartz called the mistake a “profound disappointment” but said it didn’t give either company an advantage.

Industry observers, however, say the mistake gives the losing competitor reason to protest when the Air Force finally announces a winner next year.

This is the Air Force’s third attempt to replace its KC-135 tankers, built by Boeing.

A Boeing win would secure thousands of jobs in the Puget Sound region associated with the 767 line. EADS, the parent company of Airbus, plans to assemble its A330-based tanker in Mobile, Ala.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.