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.
The $4.26 billion Small Business Innovation Research contracting program widely used by the Air Force went into hibernation as the government shut down Oct. 1, but unless lawmakers strike a deal on reforms, the program could reach an abrupt end.


