The KC-767 Advanced Tanker developed by Boeing was sized to meet the aerial refueling requirements of the U.S. Air Force’s mission and exceeded performance requirements to replace the aging, yet storied fleet of KC-135 medium tankers (see photo above), according to a Boeing news release today.
Despite the fact that the stated parameters for evaluating the aircraft said no extra credit would be assigned for exceeding certain requirement objectives, Boeing maintains, the Northrop Grumman and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) team received such credit. As a result, the oversized Airbus A330-based KC-30 was selected. Boeing has protested the decision to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
To read the entire Boeing news release, click here.
Today’s public relations effort marks the third time the defense contractor has issued news releases highlighting the company’s protest of a Pentagon decision announced Feb. 29 to award an Air Force contract for a next-generation inflight refueling aircraft to a consortium that includes Northrop Grumman and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company. For background on Boeing’s previous PR efforts, click on the BMW links below:
2 responses so far ↓
1 JP // May 7, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Boeing needs to stop sniffing some glue!
The KC-767 that they are offering to the Air Force has never flown. It is dubbed the Frankentanker because it takes wings from one aircraft, the fuselage from another one, and the cockpit from a third one.
The KC-767 was not sized to meet the AF requirements. It is the only platform that Boeing had to offer, based on an aircraft that no airline has bought since 1998!
2 for america // May 7, 2008 at 7:46 pm
The Boeing offering is the best for the taxpayer!! It will be more fuel efficient and will not require larger runways and hangars. The Eads company is fraught with corruption as displayed by the current insider trading case proceeding against its executives. The award of this contract to the French is a terrible decision and should be reversed!
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