If Reuters news service is right, the Air Force could extend its timeline for issuing a final request for proposals for its new aerial refueling aircraft competition. Reuters reports that service officials may hold off until mid-February “to iron out remaining details.” Those details probably include Northrop Grumman’s desire to see some emphasis on the cargo-hauling role for the new KC-X. There is no indication whether this RFP delay might prompt USAF to push its September 2007 award date forward.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth vowed to undertake far-reaching reforms on the way the U.S. military buys weapons, promising a sweeping overhaul of the way the Defense Department determines requirements, handles the acquisition process, and tests its kit. The fundamental goal, which Hegseth underscored in a 1-hour and 10-minute speech…
