The surprise withdrawal of the aerospace giant could give Boeing a leg up as the Air Force moves toward a contract award for a new fleet of refuelers, analysts told Breaking Defense.
By Michael MarrowAir Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter indicated he was leaning toward buying 75 more KC-46A tankers as a bridge to an accelerated next-gen program.
By Michael MarrowRob Wittman, who is currently the top Republican on the HASC’s seapower and projection forces subcommittee, is seeking the chair of HASC’s tactical air and land forces subcommittee next year.
By Valerie Insinna and Aaron Mehta“If the [KC-Y] competition doesn’t go forward, I’m not convinced the next competition would be for a [clean-sheet KC-Z],” said Larry Gallogly, Lockheed’s LMXT campaign director.
By Valerie Insinna“This will easily be Buy American Act [compliant]. It’s not even going to be close,” L3Harris CEO Chris Kubasik said of the effort with Brazil’s Embraer.
By Aaron MehtaL3Harris believes that the KC-390 could be a key piece of the Air Force’s next-generation KC-Z family of tankers due to its smaller size and ability to operate in austere environments.
By Valerie InsinnaCurrently, the Air Force envisions its next-generation KC-Z tanker as a family of systems, which could include a tanker aircraft as well as “other technologies, whether it’s survivability, or connectivity, or maybe efficiencies that we want to pull into that,” said program officer Paul Waugh.
By Valerie InsinnaAlthough lawmakers repeatedly said their position wasn’t meant to favor a particular company, in some respects the debate was held over parochial lines, as some of the most outspoken had interests in their districts.
By Valerie InsinnaThe KC-46A is the only tanker that meets stringent U.S. civil and military aviation requirements.
By BoeingThe LMXT — a variant of the Airbus 330 Multi Role Trainer Transport — will be assembled in Mobile, Ala., before being converted into a tanker in Marietta, Ga.
By Valerie InsinnaOffered in response to the Air Force’s KC-Y Program, Lockheed Martin’s American-built LMXT offers impressive capabilities and proven track-record.
By Lockheed Martin