Boeing officials said last week that the Air Force told the company to expect the draft request for proposals on the tanker replacement program later this month, followed by a final version in January 2007. USAF should name a winner in September 2007. Word is that the Air Force still is wrestling with whether it wants all one type of aircraft, or a mix of medium and large tankers, since the aircraft will perform the swing role of cargo aircraft.
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
