Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby is set to address the U.S. Senate regarding the recently re-started Air Force tanker contest.
In his prepared remarks, Shelby says the Air Force’s actions so far favor the Boeing Co., not rival duo Northrop Grumman and EADS, which would assemble their tanker in Shelby’s home state.
Northrop has voiced concern over the release of its tanker pricing information by the Air Force to Boeing during the competition last year.
The Air Force has dismissed Northrop’s complaint.
But the Alabama contingent, including Shelby, is doing its best to elevate Northrop’s cause.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., introduced legislation to force the Air Force into turning over Boeing’s tanker pricing to Northrop. But Sessions’ efforts have been thwarted.
In his prepared remarks, Shelby argues that Defense Secretary Robert Gates caved to politics when he halted the Air Force’s tanker award to Northrop and EADS last year.
“Secretary of Defense Gates’ decision to cancel the Air Force’s number one acquisition priority outright clearly placed politics and business interests over the interests of the warfighter.
While Secretary Gates may have characterized this decision as a “cooling off” period, it sent the clear message that only a Boeing tanker will be acceptable. The defense acquisition policy was unmistakable: No Boeing, no tanker,” Shelby said.
He concludes:
“Unless the Department of Defense and the Air Force live up to their commitment of impartiality and transparency, I am fearful that our warfighters will have to settle for second best.”
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