CAFB 04-12

AF Times is reporting that Northrup / EADS has pulled out of the bid process.

Northrop won’t bid on Air Force tanker - Air Force News, news from Iraq - Air Force Times

Like nobody saw this coming...

11Fan

If there was only a way that I could express how I feel about this.


http://www.unitedstatestanker.com/

USMCFLYR

I'm not real familiar with the two (now one proposal), but I seem to remember some bew-ha-ha about the old contract; but how do the rank and file tanker pilots feel about this. Is there a big push behind one or the other proposals? I've never seen this A330 tanker varient.

USMCFLYR

CAFB 04-12

I actually don't really know the details of each tanker. I'm sure Boeing will build a top notch, ultra modern tanker. I'm just as sure that EADS would have build a just-as-top-notch, just-as-ultra-modern tanker too. It's really not which tanker we get that bothers me. It's the politics, the ineptitude, and basic governmental idiocy that torques me. It's the whining of senators that really bugs me.

When delivery on this contract gets delayed by double the specified time and costs twice the contract amount, I won't be a bit surprised.

Nor will I be surprised if in 10 years the AF decides it only needs a third of what it thought it needed and only buys 60 tankers at quadruple the price per unit.

CAFB 04-12

So the NewGen tanker will have a 787 flight deck? I will be sorely disappointed if it doesn't come with ADS / CPDLC.

The bank into a SAM is strange--not exactly the approved solution. Will the NewGen tanker have countermeasures?

USMCFLYR

I forget how long ago is was, but I know that this project has already been held up for quite some time - I'm guessing after Boeing raised a stink when it lost the initial compeition (?) I seem to remember some political wrangling over the whole thing and accusations that the competition was not fair to both contractors.
As for which is the better tanker I'm suprised it is really that hard to figure it out. Not that I believe what is in the article, but the tankers don't necessarily sound like they are very close in capabilites - the A330 being a much bigger aircraft. Usually though, the pilots who will be tasked with flying them have strong opinions about one or the other. I hope some on here will share some insight.

USMCFLYR

Note:
Wikipedia really is an amazing thing isn't it
An article for anyone else who doesn't know the history of this troubled project.
KC-X - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

dtfl

Interesting...Boeing's last bid was a frankenstein 767 mish mash to create a tanker that was 1980s tech. At least EADs came with something out of the 90s. NOW Boeing comes in with this. Why the H&LL didn't they put this proposal in the FIRST TIME?!!?

I would have rather had the -330 and be done with it the first time...now we will wait for years to have a tanker and our mission will suffer due to politics.

Grumble

You were expecting anything less regardless?

III Corps

I think the Australians are flying theirs.

GasPasser

I'm sure it will. The KC-135 (block 40) already have ADS/CPDLC. I have not read the RFP, but I'm 99% sure they had it as a requirement.