Northrop officials rolled out the numbers Monday, saying that initially about 52 percent of its tanker competitor—the KC-30—would be built in the US. The percentage could go up to perhaps 60 percent as production unfolds. Most of the rest of the work would be done at plants in Britain, Germany, and Spain. Northrop would act as integrator, while EADS would produce the aircraft, mainly at the new facility it plans to build in Mobile, Ala.
Depot-level maintenance took longer than expected for nearly three-quarters of Air Force aircraft from fiscal 2019-2024, according to a new report, as unplanned repairs rise across the aging fleet. The report, from the Government Accountability Office, also found that the extent of the delays has been masked because officials often revise their target timelines after unplanned work occurs.