Conferees on the 2006 defense authorization bill eliminated a House-inspired “Buy America” provision that would have barred EADS from entering its Airbus aircraft in a USAF tanker competition, according to Associated Press news service. We took note, last summer, of the move by EADS to overcome the provision when it teamed with Northrop Grumman for development and production of the KC-30 as a replacement for USAF’s KC-135. Now, it appears that will not be necessary. President Bush is expected to sign the authorization measure soon.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach told lawmakers Apr. 30 that the service’s biggest airlifter, the C-5 Galaxy, has a 37 percent mission capable rate—one of several challenges facing the mobility fleet.