Pontifications: Airbus ponders A330neo MRTT, Boeing ponders KC-46A re-engine

By Scott Hamilton Nov. 28, 2023, © Leeham News: In a reversal of intent, the airplane that Airbus may submit to the US Air Force for the next round of aerial tanker procurement may be based on the… Read More

Lockheed bows out, Airbus plows ahead in USAF tanker procurement; Boeing favored

By Scott Hamilton Oct. 24, 2023, © Leeham News: Lockheed Martin Co. (LMCO) threw in the towel on Oct. 23, announcing it will not submit information to the US Air Force for the KC-Y aerial refueling tanker procurement…. Read More

Tanker competition decision expected later this year

Subscription Required Now open to all readers. By Scott Hamilton May 29, 2023, © Leeham News: Procurement of a new round of US Air Force aerial refueling tankers resulted in a shift in strategy driven by new threat… Read More

Pontifications: Looking ahead to a major Defense procurement: Boeing vs Lockheed-Airbus

May 23, 2023, © Leeham News: Decisions by the US Air Force in Washington (DC) on whether to require competition for its next round of aerial refueling tanker aircraft are still months away. But so far, the USAF… Read More

Making the case for competing the next USAF tanker procurement

Subscription Required By Scott Hamilton May 22, 2023, © Leeham News: The US Air Force is moving slowly toward another aerial refueling tanker procurement. With hundreds of ancient Boeing KC-135 tankers still to replace, the procurement will be… Read More

Boeing sees incumbency as advantage in coming air force tanker procurement

Subscription Required Now open to all Readers The interview with Lockheed Martin appeared Jan. 30. By Scott Hamilton March 21, 2022, © Leeham News: Lockheed Martin Co. (LMCO) plans to submit a proposal for the US Air Force’s… Read More

Pontifications: Advice for Boeing in the coming KC-Y campaign

Part 6: The KC-X competition from Boeing’s perspective Feb 21, 2022, © Leeham News: Jim Albaugh, the former president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes and of Boeing’s defense unit, retired from the company in 2012. He oversaw… Read More

HOTR: Lockheed Martin to split refueling tanker work between Airbus-Mobile and LMCO Marietta facilities

Jan. 31, 2022, © Leeham News: Assembly and conversion of the proposed LMXT refueling tanker for the US Air Force will be split between Mobile (AL) and Marietta (GA), Lockheed Martin (LMCO) announced today. Airbus has final assembly… Read More

Lockheed Martin sees LMXT as complementary to KC-46A, not competitive

Subscription Required Now open to all readers By Scott Hamilton Jan. 30, 2022, © Leeham News: Lockheed Martin’s LMXT US Air Force refueling tanker will be a complementary offer to the service in the forthcoming KC-Y competition. In… Read More

Pontifications: Teaming with Lockheed Martin for the KC-Y tanker competition

Last in a Series Jan. 10, 2022, © Leeham News: Sean O’Keefe retired from EADS/Airbus in 2014. Boeing won the re-bid contract for the US Air Force aerial refueling tanker in 2011. The third round of the tanker… Read More