Boeing Continues Protest of Tanker Contract

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:

KC-767 ‘Less Risk for Warfighters, Taxpayers’ (April 24)

Boeing Protests Air Force Tanker Contract Award (March 11)

-- Bob McCarty Writes