Of course we always knew it was never really over. In a big victory for Boeing today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) sustained a bid protest by the Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer over the Pentagon's decision to select the Northrop Grumman/EADS proposal for the KC-X tanker replacement program. The GAO press release states "the Air Force had made a number of significant errors that could have affected the outcome of what was a close competition between Boeing and Northrop Grumman". As if this project has been drawn out enough, the GAO is now proposing the Air Force "reopen discussions with the offerors,obtain revised proposals, re-evaluate the revised proposals, and make a new source selection decision." So instead of preparing to receive their 179 Northrop Grumman KC-45A's to partially replace the fleet of venerable KC-135's, it looks like the Air Force may be back to the drawing board on this one. Of course this decision has thrilled Boeing, who still hopes to supply the Air Force with its 767 based aerial refueler. Northrop Grumman, on the other hand, is still confident they will be producing the Air Force's next tanker, even with the re-evaluation. Round and round we go! I hope those mechanics can keep the 135's together at least another year longer than they were expecting.
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