Boeing officials cast doubt on the future of the production line for USAF’s C-17 cargo aircraft during this week’s AFA Air & Space Conference, saying the company will begin in January shutting down the line for the aircraft if there is no firm commitment from the Air Force by the end of the year to buy more than the currently planned 180. The aircraft’s program manager, David Bowman, told reporters at a briefing that the company is facing some “tough decisions.” One big problem is that the Pentagon has been dragging its heels on the new Mobility Capabilities Study. A similar study done just prior to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, noted a severe shortage of airlift. Matters have only gotten worse. (Read our report here.)
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.