Sean O’Keefe, head of EADS’s North American operations, said Tuesday he hasn’t seen indications yet that the Air Force desires major technological improvements in the new KC-X tanker over what it already possesses in the KC-135. “The current draft request for proposals is not a tanker modernization program, it is just a replacement program,” O’Keefe told journalists, reported the New York Times (may require free registration). EADS is Northrop Grumman’s principal teammate in trying to secure the KC-X contract. O’Keefe reiterated that the language in the draft solicitation places the Northrop team at a disadvantage since it would not properly assess the capability of the team’s KC-30 tanker design that goes beyond the baseline requirements. He repeated the team’s threat not to submit a bid unless the final version of the RFP, due for release within weeks, reflects changes that give would his team a “fair” chance.
Golden Dome Details Begin to Emerge
Dec. 7, 2025
The Golden Dome air and missile defense shield to protect the United States will have some “operational capability” in 2028, the program’s leader said Dec. 6 at the Reagan National Defense Forum.
