I did a quick search to see if there was an existing thread on the subject but I couldn’t find one. Apologies!
I read an article a few minutes ago on Yahoo Business which mentions that Northrop-Grumman and Airbus will indeed submit a bid for the USAF Tanker Requirement with its KC-30. The aircraft will be built in Toulouse and completed in Alabama.
I realize the aritcle is in French and I apologize for that. It quickly mentions the fact that the first contract will be for 179 frames and will be worth 30-40 billion US dollars, but could later reach 200 billion US dollars. Signing of said contract should intervene around the end of the year.
If this is so, which aircraft will be offered by Boeing. There has been a lot of speculation as to which model would represent the American manufacturers interest in this bid. The Boeing KC-767 is here and pretty much ready to go into mass production as Italy is already receiving its own aircraft. However, there has been mention of the Triple-7 being modified to fit the demands of the Air Force. Yet, it is my understanding, and correct me if I am wrong, that the USAF needs these aircraft rapidly to replace the oldest KC-135s. Does Boeing have time to do these modifactions to an existing Triple-7 in order to offer it as an option.
Or will we only see the KC-767 and KC-30 being pitted against one another?
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February 9, 2007 at 7:18 am