USAF used criteria GAO rejected in new DRFP: KC-30 backers

Update, December 8: Bill Barksdale, Boeing KC-7A7 spokesman, emailed us with a response to this column. We have posted his note in the Comments section below. Original Post: The USAF used criteria in the current Draft RFP for… Read More

USAF RFP supports smaller airplane: Boeing

Bloomberg quotes the CEO of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems as saying the USAF Draft RFP for the KC-X competition favors the smaller 767. Bloomberg writes: Boeing Says Tanker Request Favors a 767-Based Plane (Update1) 2009-12-03 16:13:59.557 GMT By… Read More

Tanker DRFP may violate law: former procurement official

Inside Defense, a subscription-only publication, today reported that a former defense procurement official believes the current KC-X tanker Draft RFP may violate the law. Here is what Inside Defense sent out in the public domain: Former Top Procurement… Read More

Prediction: Boeing offers KC-767

Update: Defense News just published this article detailing the continuing problems Boeing has with the KC-767 Italian tanker, including the centerline hose-and-drogue problems we previously exclusively revealed in this column. Original Post: With Boeing and Northrop Grumman still… Read More

Updating the KC-X competition

Update: The Mobile Press Register has this story saying that the USAF won’t include the WTO dispute in the KC-X competition because WTO rules prohibit doing so while the case is pending–something we’ve been telling the doggone politicians… Read More

787 Line 2 Update, Oct. 28

Update, 11:30 AM PDT: The Boeing Board of Directors is to make the decision on siting Line 2 today or tomorrow–we have somewhat conflicting information. We’re trying for some clarification. Original Post: A flurry of activity erupted last… Read More

Line 2 talks deadlocked: SEA Times

Dominic Gates at The Seattle Times has a story that’s important to Washington State and South Carolina: talks between Boeing and the IAM are deadlocked, he writes. Boeing wants a 10-year, no-strike contract in exchange for putting Line… Read More

Boeing “leaning” toward KC-767

Boeing is “leaning” toward offering the KC-767 to the US Air Force in the KC-X competition, an executive revealed at a conference in Everett (WA) today. Boeing previously has been coy about whether it will offer the KC-767,… Read More

Northrop wins tanker contract

Update, 9:30 am: We’ve added more information below the jump. Northrop Grumman won a big KC-10 tanker maintenance contract from the Air Force this week, taking it away from Boeing, which has had it for 10 years. The… Read More

KC-X tanker DRFP released

Update, September 28: DOD Buzz reports Boeing is going to offer two bids, one each for the KC-767 and KC-777. Here is the link. We think this is a brilliant move. Original Post: Here is the link to… Read More