The Air Force has placed price of its KC-X tanker replacement at a lower level than four other key criteria, reports Andrea Shalal-Esa of Reuters news service. The service plans to rate a combination of four other criteria—mission capability, proposal risk, past performance, and integrated fleet assessment—ahead of cost for the development and purchase of the 179 aircraft in the KC-X increment. According to Reuters, lower price was one of the Northrop Grumman-EADS North America team’s strongest selling points. However, Northrop officials have been making a strong case for the ability of the KC-30 to carry more fuel, more cargo, and more passengers and mounted a vigorous campaign to offset any Buy American bias. What USAF doesn’t want is a protest from either Boeing or Northrop, which would delay the program.
Unit commanders are being told to separate service members who can’t shave their cheeks and chin for medical reasons for more than a year, according to new guidance from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
