What EADS should have done was bid a plane that met spec for the cheapest price.

What they did do was bid a plane that was over spec and tried to convince the USAF that it was worth the extra cost. They failed.

So you say it’s provably wrong. Care to provide the updated RFP, both bids, and a copy of all the waivers?

–edit–
I did a little more digging.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3Ae54d25e0-205c-4b18-9fe8-3d296e7f86ef

The V-22 refueling issue is a “Non Mandatory” requirement. Here is what that means.

If those two adjusted prices are close—that is, within 1 percent—then, and only then, will we
consider the 93 nonmandatory requirements. Why is this? This is because the customer has
decided that he really needs the 373 mandatory requirements. We definitely want to take into
account the wartime and peacetime adjustments. But the customer attaches some value to the
93 nonmandatory requirements, but not much—willing to pay a little bit more for a little bit
more, but not more than 1 percent.

So the V-22 IS a requirement, but is only counted if all the 373 mandatory requirements are met and the costs are within 1% (which they were not).

It’s not all about runway, but hangers and parking slots too.

There is this from the announcement.

Because the Air Force wanted a competition, industry sources said, EADS received a number of waivers for several “key performance parameters,” including the ability to take off from 7,000-foot runways, fitting into existing hangars, and refueling all types of Air Force aircraft — it reportedly cannot pass fuel to Air Force V-22s. As well, the sources said, the contractor will not be required to integrate government-furnished classified hardware.

If the length was not an issue, why the waiver?

Two tidbits that I found while going through the FY2012 budget items.

Both items refer to this FY2012 Budget Document:
http://www.saffm.hq.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-110211-032.pdf

1. Blk 4 is scheduled for deliveries to the services & partners starting in 2015

(pg274) Follow-on development Block 4 capabilities; includes logistics, weapons, security, sensors, survivability, upgrades & urgent operational requirements with 2015 delivery to services & partners.

2. The F-35A (at least) will be nuke capable (twin internal B-61s) with Blk4 which is 2015 (see #1).

(pg 281) The Joint Contract Specification requirements call for the F-35A (CTOL) Variant Air Vehicle to have the capabilities and provisions for Dual Capable Aircraft (DCA) operations. DCA refers to the capability to carry and deliver conventional or non-conventional weapons. DCA operation is internal carriage of two B-61s. In accordance with the Operational Requirements Document, DCA will be integrated in the first post-SDD block upgrade in time to meet Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan force structure requirements.

(pg 282) Under the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) Phase of the F-35 Program (embedded within PE 0604800F), the F-35 Air Vehicle was designed to provide for the future full integration of the B61 weapon. This entailed ensuring that sufficient physical volume be reserved for the weapon and its parent carriage equipment, AME and the capability provide the system 2 interface. Design provision included the space necessary to load, carry, and release the B61 as well as the space needed for the physical interface points, both in the Main Weapon Bay (electrical access panels, harness points, and S&RE Access) and applicable pilot interface. Electrical and functional provisions include power and signals to support weapon statusing and employment as well as the relevant wiring harnesses.

Does the UK have B-61s?

–edit–
Found the answer here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_sharing

Of the three nuclear powers in NATO (France, the United Kingdom and United States) only the United States has provided weapons for nuclear sharing. As of November 2009, Belgium[1], Germany[1], Italy, the Netherlands[1] and Turkey[1] are still hosting U.S. nuclear weapons as part of NATO’s nuclear sharing policy.[2][3] Canada hosted weapons until 1984,[4] and Greece until 2001.[2][5] The United Kingdom also received U.S. tactical nuclear weapons such as nuclear artillery and Lance missiles until 1992, despite the UK being a nuclear weapons state in its own right; these were mainly deployed in Germany.

As of 2005[update] of the 480 U.S. nuclear weapons believed to be deployed in Europe, 180 tactical B61 nuclear bombs fall under the nuclear sharing arrangement.[6] The weapons are stored within a vault in Hardened Aircraft Shelters, using the USAF WS3 Weapon Storage and Security System. The delivery warplanes used are F-16s and Panavia Tornados.

Either that or JSOW-ER.

AARGM (which went IOC last year with FOC in 2013) is scheduled to be integrated on the F-35 with Blk6 (2018 to 2020 timeframe).

One nice thing about the F-35 carrying so much internal fuel is that it will be able to carry 4 AARGMs (along with the internal 8 SDBs and 2 AMRAAMs).

Here is the current list of weapons. Ones in purple are Blk3 with the rest coming soon after. Meteor & AARGM is Blk 4 or 5 and SDBII is Blk4.

One of the key things to remember about the F-35 is UAI (Universal Armament Interface). Once fully operational, this system will allow new weapons to be added to the F-35 in the field without the use of block upgrades. Basically the process involves a service to qualify the weapon on the F-35, then create a data disk containing the weapon data. Once that is complete the data can then be downloaded to any F-35 in the world to use that very day.