Air Force exploring options for next batch of midair refueling tankers (updated)

KC

17/06/2021 04:52

(Adds background on tanker competitions)
    By Mike Stone
    WASHINGTON, June 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force said on
Wednesday it is surveying the aircraft industry to learn if
another manufacturer has the capacity or interest to make the
next tranche of midair refueling tankers similar to the recently
purchased KC-46.
    The Air Force's newest refueling tankers, the KC-46 Pegasus
made by Boeing Co  BA.N , have been plagued by performance
challenges including defects with an on-board video system and
the boom that connects the tanker to aircraft seeking refueling.
    Despite the challenges the KC-46 aircraft faces, during
Congressional testimony on Wednesday the Acting Secretary of the
Air Force John Roth said "at this point we don't see the
economic or business sense of recompeting the contract."
    Mike Hafer, Boeing's lead for sales for the KC-46, said the
company is ready for the competition for the next tranche.
    "We are proud of the KC-46 and it's accomplishments," he
said. "Boeing is poised to provide advanced capabilities going
forward. There in no other refueling tanker in the world that
meets the Air Force's requirements."
    The Air Force's survey is the first step in the process of
buying the next batch of refueling tankers. The Air Force said
the tranche of 140 to 160 jets would follow Boeing's current
contract to produce 179 KC-46's as the Pentagon replaces
hundreds of Eisenhower-era KC-135's still in service.
    Wednesday's "sources sought" document was released as part
of its market research, the Air Force said.
    The Air Force has sought to replace its tankers in three
lots. Wednesday's announcement is the beginning of the formal
process to buy the second batch.
    The Air Force hopes to "determine if there exists an
adequate number of qualified interested contractors capable of
providing solutions to meet the requirement."
    The survey comes days after the United States and the
European Union agreed to a truce in their near 17-year conflict
over aircraft subsidies. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N2NX0JQ
    The two sides have been battling since 2004 in parallel
cases at the World Trade Organization over subsidies for U.S.
planemaker Boeing  BA.N  and European rival Airbus  AIR.PA ,
which each argued exposed the other to unfair competition.
    Airbus, won a $35 billion contract in 2008 to build tankers
for the U.S. Air Force. But the deal was overturned amid
political pressure and the Air Force re-ran the competition
which Boeing ultimately won for 179 of its 767-based tankers.

 (Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington
Editing by Bill Berkrot and Michael Perry)
 ((mike.stone1@thomsonreuters.com; https://twitter.com/MichaelStone;))