Boeing bids for huge US military tanker contract

WASHINGTON — Boeing entered the bidding for a 35-billion-dollar US Air Force aerial refueling tanker contract Thursday, saying it would offer an aircraft based on its commercial 767 airliner."We intend to bid for the honor to work with our Air Force customer to replace the existing fleet of KC-135 aircraft with a new-generation, multi-role tanker in a fair and transparent acquisition process," Dennis Muilenberg, president and chief executive of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said in a statement.Boeing said its NewGen Tanker would supply the US Air Force with "a multi-mission aerial refueling aircraft that will meet all the warfighter?s mission requirements for the next several decades."The US aerospace giant said it decided to offer a 767-based model because it it would "deliver the most capability for the lowest cost to own and operate."The Defense Department late last month unveiled its final terms for the high-stakes competition in a request for proposals (RFP), promising a fair contest for aviation rivals Boeing and Airbus parent EADS.Boeing is the first to enter the competition, which marks the third attempt to replace the aging Boeing tanker aircraft fleet after years of controversy and scandal.It remained unclear whether the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) and its US partner Northrop Grumman would bid on the contract after accusing the Pentagon of favoring arch-rival Boeing."Northrop Grumman continues to work toward a bid/no-bid decision through a thorough analysis of the final RFP and discussions with our tanker teammates," Northrop spokesman Randy Belote told AFP."We will announce our decision when the review is completed."EADS reportedly is pressing Northrop to join the bidding.After the Pentagon bid announcement on February 24, EADS North America said: "We're ready now and prepared to support Northrop Grumman in delivering the world's most advanced tankers to the US Air Force."Boeing said the NewGen Tanker was projected to save billions in taxpayer dollars and create sig

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