On August 6^th, the US Defense Department formally reopened a competition between Boeing and Northrop Grumman/ EADS for the provision of the USAF's next generation tanker aircraft.

The winner of the contract will supply 179 new tankers to the Air Force through a deal worth $35 billion.

Northrop Grumman/ EADs Tanker

Previously, Northrop Grumman/ EADs with the KC-30 aircraft had been declared the winner but, since that time, Boeing has protested, and US government officials assessing the selection process found that a "number of errors" were made that could have affected the outcome.

Boeing Tanker

As a result of the decision to re-open the bidding, the proposed Boeing tanker, the KC-767, will be able to be submitted once again.

The new aircraft - whichever is chosen - will replace the USAF's 40+ year old fleet of Boeing KC-135 air refuellers

Speaking to the media yesterday, the Director of Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy at the Pentagon, Shay Assad, described how tanker bidding guidelines had been altered to give both parties "a clear and unambiguous understanding" of how the bids they now re-submit will be judged.

An ultimate RFP (Request for Proposals) is set to be issued later this month, he said, giving Boeing and Northrop Grumman/ EADs until the 1^st October to put forward bids once more.

The Pentagon, Assad added, would potentially announce the winner of the USAF Air Tanker contract in December.

Air-to-Air Refuelling

The US Air Force air-to-air refuelling role has, historically, been filled by Boeing aircraft, with types such as the KC-50 and KC-135 having been used.

Air-to-air refuelling technology has evolved down the years to produce two, principal modern techniques - 'boom and receptacle' and 'probe and drogue'.

Both methods are in use within current USAF operations.

Source - Armed Forces International's US Correspondent

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