The Pentagon’s willingness to grant a 60-day extension to the KC-X proposal deadline may not be enough for EADS to commit to bidding. “We have firmly indicated that a 90-day extension would be the minimum time necessary to prepare a responsible proposal for this $40 billion program,” Guy Hicks, EADS North America spokesman told the Daily Report after Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell announced Wednesday the Defense Department’s willingness to grant more time for KC-X tanker bids to be turned in if EADS commits to competing (see Another 60 Days above). Hicks added that EADS “will consider” DOD’s decision to offer the 60-day extension, which would mean bids for the new tanker would be due July 9 vice May 10.
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.