Northrop Grumman officials say they need more time to review the final tanker replacement program request for proposals issued by the Air Force yesterday before they can determine whether the Northrop-EADS KC-30 is in or out. However, Associated Press reports that, even though the company needs more time, Wall Street industry analyst Colin Crook of UBS Investment Research, believes the Air Force has found the right measures to ensure Northrop stays in the running.
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.