Business

New competition for aerial tankers
by Silvia Szarkova

The competition to build new aerial tankers is now opened again! Robert Gates reopened it on Wednesday- Defense Secretary did this again after the picking up of Northrop Grumman Corp and EADS failed in favor of Boeing Corporation.

The 35 billion dollars competition will be now controlled by John Young who is the Pentagon´s chief weapon purchaser. This is different at it was from February when the Air force was in charge of the project. Gates suppose the final decision will be done until December, because, according to him, the current process has gone on far too long. Gates also told the journalists, that in new contest they will address all of the issues occurring with the old contract, which called out a vast protests immediately after awarding the two companies, of course, mostly from Boeing and its political backers in Congress.

The Government Accountability Office claimed “significant errors” in the Air Force´s selection last month and declared the urgent need of mending this service. Gates rushed to reopen the competition to build new aircraft for refueling warplanes in mid-air, which would replace 47-year old current KC-135 tanker fleet.

With its tanker based on the 767 airliner, Boeing was expected to win in February, but the Air Force choose the larger Northrop based on the A330 airliner( and this one is built by EADS´s Airbus unit).

John Young says: “We will not expedite steps in the process. We have to do this methodically, fairly and without bias in any way.” He claimed that the main aim was to this till December, but this time they will not going to hurry it up. Both companies will have equal chances and both can modify their bids.

The 15-year contract is first of three steps in acquisition phases made by the Air Force. Replacing the advanced age KC- 135 tankers is now the number one priority.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080709/bs_nm/usa_airforce_tanker_decision_dc;_ylt=AmspuU0SgGposLmKBaURKtCs0NU

by Silvia Szarkova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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