According to various lawmakers, the Pentagon does plan to recompete the Air Force’s KC-X tanker program award, following the Government Accountability Office rejection of the process that awarded the program to Northrop Grumman/EADS in February. Defense Secretary Robert Gates intends to announce same today. (See coverage in July 10 Daily Report column.) DOD and Air Force acquisition officials are slated to appear before a House panel Thursday (see below).
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
