The race to secure the contract for USAF’s new aerial refueler, dubbed KC-X, is really in full swing now, with an April 11 announcement from Boeing that it submitted its proposal to the Air Force on Tuesday, as well. (See above.) James Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, claims the Boeing entrant, a KC-767, “will do for refueling what the C-17 has done for airlift—it will revolutionize mobility operations.” The company statement says the 7,000-page KC-X proposal describes a tanker uniquely designed for its primary air refueling mission, but also capable of moving cargo, passengers, patients, and medical crewmembers.” Boeing also touts that its KC-767 will “save taxpayers nearly $10 billion in fuel costs compared to the competitor.”
The F-35 Joint Program Office has officially announced plans to issue multiple sole-source contracts to Pratt & Whitney to upgrade the fighter’s F135 engine—a widely expected move after Pentagon officials indicated they would do so earlier this year instead of developing an entirely new engine.