The Air Force has decided to ignore the governmental subsidy issue before the World Trade Organization when USAF reviews proposals for its tanker replacement program, reports Reuters news service. Ken Miller, who is special assistant to the Air Force Secretary for acquisition governance and transparency, said Monday that whatever WTO decides, the outcome “will be neutral.” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and various Alabama elected officials viewed the contentious issue as an attempt to eliminate the Northrop Grumman-EADS team from the tanker program in favor of Boeing.
A legislative standoff has led to a lapse in a $4.26 billion small business innovation contracting program widely used by the Air Force and could spell the end of it entirely, industry sources warned Air & Space Forces Magazine.


