The Pentagon has cleared the Air Force to pursue a “traditional competitive acquisition” tanker replacement effort, says Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne. The service expects to issue a request for information by the end of April, followed by a draft request for proposal this fall and a final RFP in January 2007. A contract award could be made in summer 2007. There are two likely competitors: Boeing or the Northrop Grumman-EADS team. However, even with Northrop fronting, the presence of the European EADS does not sit well with certain lawmakers, including Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
An important U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control plane was among the aircraft damaged in a March 27 Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.