Talk of splitting the KC-X tanker program—half to Boeing and half to Northrop Grumman—died down over the summer amid continued Pentagon resistance. However, the idea resurfaced this week in Mobile, which would be the site of a new tanker production facility should the Northrop-EADS team get the KC-X contract. Northrop wants USAF to make changes to the current approach because it believes the new competition favors Boeing. (Sen. John McCain has said the same.) Short of that, Northrop spokesman Randy Belote said the company would be OK with a split buy, reports the Press-Register. Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) told the newspaper he wouldn’t oppose a split. Per a WKRG report, Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.) said he would push the split, “So we can stop the politics; stop the litigation; stop the battles over the [request for proposals] and let’s start building tankers in Mobile.”
The Space Force has awarded 20 contracts worth up to $3.2 billion to 12 companies since last year to develop space-based interceptor capabilities, Space Systems Command announced April 24, providing new details on the firms involved and the scope of their work.