Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne says that the Air Force expects an “imminent” release of a request for information from industry, followed by a request for proposals in September. Wynne, who was speaking at the 2006 spring policy-briefing luncheon hosted by the House Aerospace Caucus on Thursday, said, “We think that’s going to come very, very shortly.” He projected a contract award for mid-2007. Wynne noted that the $100 million provided by Congress in the 2006 budget will be used for tanker studies and the competition, adding, “It should be adequate to get us under way.”
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.