The Pentagon could speed up awarding a $35 billion aerial refueling tanker contract to the Boeing Co., a spokesman said Tuesday.
Just yesterday, Boeing’s rival Northrop Grumman dropped out of the competition to supply the Air Force with 179 tankers. Boeing will use a tanker based on its Everett-built 767 jet.
Northrop’s withdrawal from the contest leaves Boeing as the sole-bidder. Therefore, the Pentagon may be able to give Boeing the $35 billion deal sooner than it had expected, reports Reuters.
“We may be in a position where we will be able to take a look at reducing some of those milestones,” Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters.
After releasing its final request for proposals last month, the Pentagon had given Boeing and Northrop 75 days to submit a bid. The Air Force planned to announce a winner in September.
Despite Northrop’s decision not to bid, Boeing’s Jim Albaugh isn’t convinced the tanker drama is over.
“It’s the longest running soap opera since ‘Days of Our Lives,’” Albaugh said Tuesday. “And I’m not sure we’ve seen the last episode yet.”
Before being asked to lead Boeing’s commercial airplanes division last year, Albaugh presided over Boeing’s defense business. He’s been involved in Boeing’s efforts to win the tanker contest for the last nine years as the Air Force is on its third attempt at replacing its fleet of aging KC-135 tankers.
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