Boeing and EADS North America have until Feb. 11 to submit their best and final offers for supplying KC-X tankers to the Air Force, according to press reports. Each company is vying for the rights to build up to 179 KC-X tanker aircraft. They will replace the service’s oldest KC-135s that average about 50 years in age. Reuters reported that both companies had separate meetings with Air Force acquisition officials on Monday in preparation for turning in their final proposal revisions. Each company confirmed Feb. 11 as the due date, reports Bloomberg.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.