Tue, Jun 16, 2009
Looking For A Rematch With Northrop Grumman On Refueling
Planes
After successfully protesting the
award of a contract for aerial refueling tankers based on an Airbus
platform to Northrop Grumman, Boeing is proposing a tanker design
using either its 767 or 777 airframes when bids are re-opened next
week.
Boeing defense chief Jim Albaugh made the announcement at the
Paris Air Show Monday.
Northrop Grumman won the contract in February of last year with
a tanker based on the Airbus A330. Boeing successfully challenged
the contract to the Government Accountability Office, and won the
right to have a new RFP. In setting aside the contract, GAO
said the Air Force “made a number of significant
errors” in its selection. It said The Air Force failed to
assess bids in accordance with evaluation criteria and improperly
credited Northrop for exceeding aerial-refueling parameters,
according to a report in Bloomberg News.
Richard Aboulafia, vice president of Teal Group in Fairfax,
Virginia, told Bloomberg "The 777 solves the technology and
additional cargo capability questions, but it increases cost and it
might be too much plane for the requirement. On the other hand, if
there is a split between Boeing and the Airbus A330 platform the
two planes complement each other nicely.”
In a news conference at the Paris Air Show, Northrop Grumman
spokesman Randy Belote said he couldn't comment on Boeing's design,
but feels confident his company will prevail. “KC-45, which
is ready now, has the right combination of fuel carry and offload,
range, multi-role capability and cost," he said.
Bloomberg reports that Boeing will re-designate it's design the
KC-7A7 for the time being. As to a possible split contract, A
Northrop Grumman spokesperson said the company would be willing to
consider that option as long as each supplier provides at least 12
aircraft a year. A split order is being considered in Congress
after being suggested by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
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