The World No.1 Choice " The Boeing NewGen Tanker "
" One Boeing "
Presented

Exceeds 372 mandatory Air Force requirements
Capable, Survivable, and Combat-ready at

"go to war on Day 1"

The Lowest Cost to the Taxpayer
 The Boeing is READY ANYTIME  ANYPLACE
TO ACCEPT THE
 ECONOMIC RECOVERY Package
KC-X Sky Refueling Tanker

 

Last July 9th, 2010, The Boeing Company submitted a proposal to the U.S. Air Force to provide the service with the world first choice of a next-generation aerial refueling tanker aircraft which is Based on Boeing‘s 767 commercial airplane, the NewGen Tanker would replace 179 of the 400 Eisenhower-era KC-135 aircraft currently in the Air Force fleet.

More than the  8,000-pages NewGen Tanker proposal, hand-delivered in person to the KC-X program office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, offers an American-made, 767-based multi-mission tanker that will satisfy all mandatory Air Force requirements and be capable, survivable, and combat-ready at the lowest cost to the taxpayer. The proposal was created by an integrated "One Boeing" team and ready for "go to war on Day 1" from various sites across the company, including employees from the Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; and Engineering, Operations & Technology organizations.

“We are honored to support our U.S. Air Force customer and submit this proposal to meet the critical mission needs of this nation,” said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “Boeing has more than 60 years of experience developing, manufacturing and supporting tankers for America’s warfighters, and we’re ready to build the NewGen Tanker now. This revolutionary tanker will deliver widebody capabilities in a narrowbody footprint, operate in any theater or from any base, and — with the lowest operating cost of any tanker in the competition — save the Air Force and the American taxpayers billions of dollars.”

“As the only company in this competition with rich experience in developing and manufacturing derivative aircraft for the warfighter, Boeing brings the talent and resources of our existing team and facilities to fully meet the requirements of the U.S. Air Force,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “With our Boeing commercial and defense teams and a proven supplier network, we have delivered more than 1,000 commercial derivative aircraft to U.S. government customers and military customers around the world. Add to that our experience as the only company to deliver a combat-tested aerial refueling boom, and we are ready to provide the right tanker for the Air Force and the best value for taxpayers.”

Based on the proven Boeing 767 commercial aircraft, the NewGen Tanker is a widebody, multi-mission aircraft updated with the latest and most advanced technology and capable of meeting or exceeding the Air Force’s needs for transport of fuel, cargo, passengers and patients. It includes state-of-the-art systems to meet the demanding mission requirements of the future, including a digital flight deck featuring Boeing 787 Dreamliner electronic displays and a cockpit-design philosophy that places the pilot in command rather than allowing computer software to limit combat maneuverability. The NewGen Tanker also features an advanced KC-10 boom with an expanded refueling envelope, increased fuel offload rate and fly-by-wire control system.

More cost-effective to own and operate than the larger and heavier Airbus A330 Tanker being offered by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS), the Boeing NewGen Tanker will save American taxpayers more than $10 billion in fuel costs alone over its 40-year service life because it burns 24 percent less fuel. The Boeing tanker also will cost 15 to 20 percent less to maintain than the A330, which means it will save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in maintenance costs.

Nationwide, the NewGen Tanker will support approximately 50,000 total U.S. jobs with Boeing and more than 800 suppliers in more than 40 states. That is tens of thousands more jobs in the United States than an Airbus A330 tanker that is designed and largely manufactured in Europe.

Boeing has the capacity and capability to meet the production rate at whatever level the Air Force determines — with a low-risk approach to manufacturing that relies on a trained and experienced U.S. work force and existing Boeing facilities in Washington state and Kansas. Boeing will use a proven and cost-effective in-line production system similar to that used on the company’s successful P-8 program for the U.S. Navy.

In addition to building the U.S. Air Force KC-135 and KC-10 fleets, Boeing has delivered four KC-767Js to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and is on contract to deliver four KC-767As to the Italian Air Force.

To learn more about the NewGen Tanker and Boeing’s bid for the KC-X tanker competition, visit www.UnitedStatesTanker.com.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world’s largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.

Source: Boeing Company

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Last March 31st, the Pentagon  Extended Tanker Bid Deadline May 10th to July 9th, 2010 according to Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell.  Video

The Defense Department gave more chance to bidding on the KC-X aerrial refueling tanker contract that if the European Aeronautics Defense and Space Co.  which Airbus took the advantage of the extention  and submited on Thursday, July 9th submitted its bid for a 40-billion-dollar US military contract.

"We are proud of our offering, which is the only one in this competition that is flying and refueling today," said European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. North America chairman Ralph Crosby.

The European firm is proposing a military version of its A330 commercial passenger airliner, the KC-45.

Also The USAerospace news report shows that U.S. Aerospace, Inc. and Antonov Submitted  for KC-X Tanker Program.

$150 Million per Plane for 179 Aircraft
LOS ANGELES - U.S. Aerospace, Inc. (OTCBB: USAE - News), a U.S. aerospace and defense contractor, today announced that it has submitted a bid to the U.S. Air Force to supply 179 aerial refueling tankers at $150 Million per plane, with a total bid package of $29.55 Billion including research and development costs.

The aircraft components will be built by Antonov in Ukraine with final assembly of the planes by U.S. Aerospace, Inc. in the United States.

“We are proud to be participating in the largest military contract bid in history,” said U.S. Aerospace, Inc. director Michael L Goldberg. “We are pleased to be executing on our aerospace business plan focusing on expanding our Company’s sales and manufacturing capabilities.

The Round 2 RFP certainly clarifies the nature of the competition. Round 1 featured 37 mandatory requirements, and 771 optional requirements that could affect evaluations. Round 2 reverses that ratio, with 373 “go to war on Day 1” requirements that must be met to qualify, and 93 “trade space” requirements that earn extra points.

The resulting RFP is best described as a cost-driven, best-value competition, using fixed-price bids. It’s worthy of note that the prices aren’t entirely fixed, for good reason. Imagine, for instance, that the US dollar devalued sharply over the contract’s life and imported materials became more expensive, or inflation skyrocketed and labor rates changed accordingly. Forcing the manufacturers to absorb those losses would be unfair, and could induce serious financial problems for the company. Provision 836 AESG/H025 provides a formula for adjusting prices if key inputs fluctuate, in order to create an adjusted payment price. With this safety valve acknowledged, the “fixed-price” bids as submitted will form the baseline.

Here is  KC-X Round 2: Refueling bonus requirements:

The following image shows differences for the size between Boeing and Airbus for the KC-135 Replacement Program:

Like DOD emphasized and says that a fair, open and transparent competition in order to get the best airplane to our warfighters at the best value to the taxpayers.

Speaking of the taxpayers best value, as to Airbus’ claims regarding A350 funding: It is now Launch aid for Airbus now formally illegal. You can see why, it is victory to the Boeing Company: The WTO has now found that every instance of Launch Aid ever given to Airbus violated the requirements of the Subsidies Agreement. Airbus cannot now replicate those same past patterns without again violating the agreement. And the USTR has been clear: It will vigorously enforce against A350 Launch Aid. EADS’s own shareholder materials recognize this incontrovertible reality as well, warning shareholders that:

This ruling “may limit access by EADS to risk-sharing-funds for large projects (…) [and] may theoretically cause the [EC] and the involved governments to analyse possibilities for a change in the commercial terms of funds already advanced to EADS.

(…) [N]o assurances can be given that government financing will continue to be made available in the future, in part as a result of the proceedings mentioned above.”.

Certainly the citizens and nations appreicate the support .  Its been too long and time to recover however, the panelty should have paid to the Boeing Company and to the U.S. which there are a lot  of works to recover for the Boeing Company's damaged  economic and global economic adjustment including the world bank crash issues.

However, DOD grant and exteded the due date to July 9th, 2010 for EADS  and compress the bid evaluation period, last March 31st, 2010 report shows that DOD will stay as close to the original award schedule as possible so as to
still award the contract early this fall,”

“We are basing this strictly on the needs of
the warfighter, the law of the land, and our desire to make sure that the taxpayers get their money’s worth.”

The Air Force
KC-135 modernization program contract is estimated to be worth $35 billion.

This RFP summary was given on February, 2010 by William J. Lynn, Deputy Secretary of Defense Michael B. Donley, Secretary of the Air Force Ashton B. Carter, Under Secretary of Defense (AT&L) February, 2010 which the requiremnts:372 Mandatory System Level Requirements and the summarys are:

The Boeing Company certainly has the more than 75 years experience and facilities are there to serve NewGen Tankers for the nations and around the world. Which the NewGen Tankers are most critical to prepare and serve for the sky tankers which The Boeing is already experienced and practicing for a long time with the global safety rules and security rules to follow. The most advanced technology and long time built-in safety will prevent the uncertain dangers and unknown accidents may rise......

Boeing is the only company whose boom-equipped tanker aircraft are flying in combat missions today.

The independent reports show that its new advanced tanker designs will be the most survivable and dependable tanker aircraft in history.  The Boeing NewGen Tanker will make the most advanced tanker in the history. You will be able to see the most Sophisticated Boeing NewGen Tanker Boom and other operating information.

Of course there are many suppliers and partners are involved  and ready around the world for the Boeing NewGen Tanker which will be the recovery action for around the world to start and ready for the global economic harmony and balance to ready,  see one of the suppliers signing via Alan Dietrich, President of DRS Technologies' C3 & Aviation Group signs a teaming agreement with Mark DeVoss, Boeing's Director of Supplier Management Tanker Programs.

These lists shows the key development of Boeing's Announcement about the KC-X:Boeing NewGen Tanker:

Date

Announcements

Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring 580 Jobs, $30 Million to New York

Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring 100 Jobs, $5 Million to North Carolina

Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring 1,100 Jobs, $57 Million to Illinois

Jul. 09, 2010

Boeing Submits NewGen Tanker Proposal to US Air Force

Jul. 08, 2010

Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring $339 Million to Connecticut

Jun. 28, 2010

Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring 230 Jobs, $11 Million to Minnesota

May 27, 2010

Boeing Statement on Amendment to the FY2011 National Defense Authorization Act H.R. 5136

May 27, 2010

Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring 4,500 Jobs, $233 Million to California

May 25, 2010

Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring 2,500 Jobs, $125 Million to Texas

May 25, 2010

Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring 450 Jobs, $25 Million to Michigan

May 21, 2010

Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring 680 Jobs, $32 Million to Arizona

May 12, 2010

Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring 800 Jobs, $40 Million to Iowa

May 4, 2010

Boeing Announces Formation of Airlift and Tankers Division

Apr. 30, 2010

Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring 7,500 Jobs, $388 Million to Kansas

Apr. 28, 2010

Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring Around 690 Jobs, $33 Million to Ohio

Apr. 20, 2010

Boeing Statement on EADS' Decision to Enter KC-X Tanker Competition

Apr. 19, 2010

Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Benefit Pennsylvania

Apr. 06, 2010

Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Benefit Florida

Apr. 01, 2010

Boeing Statement on Potential Extension of Deadline for Submission of KC-X Tanker Proposals

Mar. 04, 2010

Boeing to Offer NewGen Tanker to US Air Force

Feb. 24, 2010

Boeing Statement on Release of US Air Force KC-X Tanker Final Request for Proposal

Jan. 12, 2010

Boeing Delivers 4th KC-767 Tanker to Japan Ministry of Defense

Sep. 25, 2009

Boeing Statement on Release of KC-X Tanker Draft Request for Proposal

Sep. 14, 2009

Boeing Details Tanker Capabilities at US Air Force Association Conference

Jul. 21, 2009

Boeing KC-767 Tankers for Italy Complete Military Utility Observation

May 26, 2009

Boeing KC-767J Aerial Refueling Tankers Join Active Air Wing in Japan

Feb. 27, 2009

Boeing Transfers 3rd KC-767J Tanker to Japanese Partner Itochu

Feb. 16, 2009

Rep. John Murtha Visits Boeing Facilities in Washington State

Boeing has the most engaged and well distributed throughout the states for the multicultural and diversity even through the communities. Boeing Company is fully supported by the communities and by the States in order to received the KC-X Tanker deal for the Air Force Tanker Deal. The Tanker deal is matter of the economic to recover for the Boeing Company and for the U.S Economic to recover. Last February Governor Parkinson joins Washington Governor Gregoire in Washington, D.C. to announce a national coalition to advocate for Boeing to receive the U.S. Air Force's refueling tanker contract. see below more detail via Youtube movie: Video courtesy of Boeing:

Even the Communities are working hard to recover Economic matter: see below:
Last August 19th, 2010.  Korean American Chamber of Commerce (nonprofit Organization) opend Seminar to recover the economic crisis.  This is not only the global economic crisis matter but also the communities matter to recover the economic see below pictures:

Economic Crisis Recovery Seminar for the Chamber of Commerce, August 19th, 2010 in Best Western Hotel in Tukwila, WA.  From Left:JJ KIM , Heritage Bank, Nicolas Jong, Columbia Bank, KA Chamber of Comerce, WA  President, Susan Lee, Board Chair, SJ Hong, Harold Murphy Community Capital, and  Philip Yun, UniBank.  The communities are bonding together supporting the economic Crisis.

Community Leaders and ROK Consul General Lee Ha Ryong at the Economic Crisis Recovery Seminar for the Chamber of commerce, August 19th, 2010 in Best Western Hotel in Tukwila, WA. The communities are bonding together supporting the economic Crisis.

Economic Crisis Recovery Seminar for the Chamber of commerce, August 19th, 2010 in Best Western Hotel in Tukwila, WA. The communities are bonding together supporting the economic Crisis.


Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Additionally, Boeing designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. As a major service provider to NASA, Boeing operates the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. The company also provides numerous military and commercial airline support services. Boeing has customers in more than 90 countries around the world and is one of the largest U.S. exporters in terms of sales.

Source:

DOD

Boeing

Planenews.com

Catch4all.com

Defense Industry

wikipedia

Youtube

U.S.A Aerospace  

Reported by catch4all.com, Sandra Englund, July 19th, 2010 . Rev. Aug 23rd, 2010

Revisiting:
Pentagon May be Extended Tanker Bid Deadline
May 10 to July 9th, 2010

News by The American Forces Press ServiceBookmark and Share

Pentagon May Extende Tanker Bid Deadline May 10th to July 9th, 2010

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2010 – The Defense Department today informed companies interested in bidding on the KC-X aerrial refueling tanker contract that if the European Aeronautics Defense and Space Co. formally expresses an intention to compete, the bidding deadline would be extended 60 days, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said today. Video

“We are committed to a fair, open and transparent competition in order to get the best airplane to our warfighters at the best value to the taxpayers,” Morrell announced in a late-afternoon news conference here.

Officials announced the final request for proposals, the Air Force requirements for the refueling tanker and a May 10 deadline last month. EADS recently expressed interest in the contract and requested a 90-day extension.

“It is not uncommon to grant a reasonable extension in competitions of this sort, and we consider 60 days to be reasonable,” Morrell said.

The extension would give EADS and the Boeing Co., another company that has expressed interest, to submit their proposals by July 9.

Morrell also noted that the Pentagon is prepared to expedite the bid evaluation process to ensure production of the tanker begins in early fall.

“Given that this plane is long overdue, and we do not want its delivery date to slip later than it already has, we are prepared to compress our bid evaluation period to stay as close to the original award schedule as possible so as to still award the contract early this fall,” he said.

The extension should not be confused with a “willingness to change any of the plane’s military requirements or the way bids will be evaluated” in the future, he added, stressing that local and international politics did not influence the decision.

“Politics are not a part of this process --never have been, [and] never will be,” he said. “We are basing this strictly on the needs of the warfighter, the law of the land, and our desire to make sure that the taxpayers get their money’s worth.”

The Air Force KC-135 modernization program contract is estimated to be worth $35 billion.

Source: DOD

Pentagon May Extend Tanker Bid Deadline

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2010 – The Defense Department today informed companies interested in bidding on the KC-X aerrial refueling tanker contract that if the European Aeronautics Defense and Space Co. formally expresses an intention to compete, the bidding deadline would be extended 60 days, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said today.

“We are committed to a fair, open and transparent competition in order to get the best airplane to our warfighters at the best value to the taxpayers,” Morrell announced in a late-afternoon news conference here.

Officials announced the final request for proposals, the Air Force requirements for the refueling tanker and a May 10 deadline last month. EADS recently expressed interest in the contract and requested a 90-day extension.

“It is not uncommon to grant a reasonable extension in competitions of this sort, and we consider 60 days to be reasonable,” Morrell said.

The extension would give EADS and the Boeing Co., another company that has expressed interest, to submit their proposals by July 9.

Morrell also noted that the Pentagon is prepared to expedite the bid evaluation process to ensure production of the tanker begins in early fall.

“Given that this plane is long overdue, and we do not want its delivery date to slip later than it already has, we are prepared to compress our bid evaluation period to stay as close to the original award schedule as possible so as to still award the contract early this fall,” he said.

The extension should not be confused with a “willingness to change any of the plane’s military requirements or the way bids will be evaluated” in the future, he added, stressing that local and international politics did not influence the decision.

“Politics are not a part of this process --never have been, [and] never will be,” he said. “We are basing this strictly on the needs of the warfighter, the law of the land, and our desire to make sure that the taxpayers get their money’s worth.”

The Air Force KC-135 modernization program contract is estimated to be worth $35 billion.

----------------'

Resource:

DOD

According to Yahoo news, dated March 25th, 2010, Lawmaker urges against accommodating EADS (Adds quotes, background, analysis, byline), however, Robert Gates says thinks barred from weighing WTO ruling and there is no decision on EADS' request for bidding extension.

WASHINGTON, March 25 (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he thought the Defense Department was barred by law from considering subsidies in weighing a potential EADS bid for a multibillion-dollar U.S. Air Force refueling fleet.

Chicago-based Boeing Co (BA.N) is the only other known contender for the potential $50 billion deal for 179 tankers, aircraft used to refuel others in mid-air.

The Boeing Company announced that it will offer the Boeing NewGen Tanker in the competition to supply the U.S. Air Force with a multi-mission aerial refueling aircraft that will meet all the warfighter’s mission requirements for the next several decades.

“Having supplied tankers to the Air Force for the past 60 years, Boeing has drawn on its unmatched aerial-refueling experience to thoroughly review and evaluate the KC-X solicitation issued by the Air Force,” Muilenburg said. “We respect and understand the KC-X requirements, and appreciate the importance of this program for the United States and its warfighters. We intend to bid for the honor to work with our Air Force customer to replace the existing fleet of KC-135 aircraft with a new-generation, multi-role tanker in a fair and transparent acquisition process.”

The NewGen Tanker will meet all of the Air Force’s 372 requirements -- including a production rate at whatever level the Air Force determines -- with a low-risk approach to manufacturing that relies on existing Boeing facilities in Washington state and Kansas as well as U.S. suppliers throughout the nation, with decades of experience delivering dependable military tanker and derivative aircraft.

“The NewGen Tanker will draw on the experience and talents of an integrated U.S. Tanker Team, including the best of our Boeing defense and commercial businesses and our nationwide supplier network,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “It’s a proven team and existing infrastructure that is ready to deliver these NewGen Tankers on Day One.”

The Air Force released its final KC-X Request for Proposal on Feb. 24. Boeing will deliver its proposal by May 10, within the 75-day period set forth in the terms of the solicitation. The Air Force is expected to announce its decision later this year.

To watch Boeing’s KC-X offering announcement video and experience an interactive virtual tour of the Boeing NewGen Tanker, visit www.UnitedStatesTanker.com. This Web site provides the latest information regarding The Boeing Company’s offer for the KC-X tanker competition.

Boeing is the largest exporter by value in the United States.Its stock is a component of the Dow Jones (BA) Industrial Average. The Boeing stock added + 0.17 +0.24%. The Boeing last trade was $72.49 and Avg Vol (3m): 6,358,840 Market Cap as of March 25th, 2010.

Sources:

Yahoo News

Boeing News

Reported by catch4all.com, Sandra Englund, March 25, 2010

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Source: DOD
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Secretary of General,
Dr. Robert M. Gates Comments on Tanker Competition, Other Issues

Gates Comments on Tanker Competition, Other Issues

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

A U.S. MILITARY BASE IN SOUTHWEST ASIA, March 11, 2010 – The recently released request for proposals for the Air Force’s next-generation tanker aircraft was fair, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today, and he expressed disappointment that Northrop-Grumman has withdrawn from the competition for the $35 billion contract.

Gates also talked about military retention and the proper mix of military members, career civil servants and contractors during a question-and-answer period with servicemembers of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing.

Earlier this week, Northrop-Grumman announced it would not compete to build the KC-X tanker, leaving the field to Boeing. “I wish that we had had a competition; I wish that both companies had stayed in it,” the secretary said at the town hall-style meeting that included many tanker pilots and crews. “I think the request for proposals that the Air Force sent out was fair and balanced and was based on Air Force requirements.”

Gates promised the airmen that the Defense Department will “certainly be sharpening our pencil when it comes to negotiating with Boeing.”

The newest of the Air Force’s current KC-135 tanker aircraft now in service were built in the 1960s, and Gates said the program would experience no more delays. “The bottom line: I don’t see any reason for this outcome to bring any further delays to a long-delayed program,” he said.

The secretary addressed a question about the right size and mixture of the department’s manpower. One of his first acts upon becoming secretary in December 2006 was to recommend to then-President George W. Bush that the Army and Marine Corps increase in size. “I came to the job with the view that the Army and the Marine Corps didn’t have enough troops to carry out all the missions they were being asked to perform,” he said.

Since those permanent increases were approved, Gates said, he has asked for and received permission for further temporary increases in the Army.

But the Navy and Air Force were having problems, also. “I had been in the job just a few months when I realized that both the Navy and the Air Force were basically trying to pay for their modernization by cutting people and personnel costs,” he said. “So in 2007, I froze further reductions in the Air Force. The service had been headed for 316,000, and I stopped it at 330,000.”

That freeze brought to light a philosophical priority for the secretary. “I think that the men and women in uniform are the country’s most strategic asset and, frankly, if I’m given a choice between some equipment and having the professionals to do this job, I’ll choose the latter,” he said.

The secretary said he also was concerned about too many government-unique functions being done by contractors, and he used pilot training as an example. Basic pilot training – learning to fly a Cessna – doesn’t require an experienced F-15 pilot as an instructor. “But when you get beyond that, you ought to have someone who has military and combat experience,” he said.

The secretary also looked at contractors doing inherently governmental jobs on the civilian side of the department. Contractors were monitoring government contractors, and Gates recommended that function come back under civil-service control.

“In contracting, we’re going to convert 10,000 acquisition contract jobs to permanent civil servants who belong to the Department of Defense, and are only looking out for the Department of Defense and not their home company,” he said. “Then we will add another 10,000 civil servants to that.” Overall, the Defense Department will convert tens of thousands of contractor professional services and management support jobs to civil servants as well.

“This is not disparaging to contractors,” Gates said. “We need them, and we have an important partnership with them in many places, but we kind of let it get out of control, in my view. I think we’re beginning to get our arms around the problem by making better choices about what’s done by people in uniform, what’s done by career civil servants and what’s done by contractors.”

Personnel matters of other sorts concern him, too, he said.

Most people in America don’t realize – and probably many in the Pentagon don’t realize -- that the Air Force has been at war for 18 or 19 years – since the first Gulf War,” Gates said. “Another concern that I had when I took this job is that when it comes to the reserve components, we might have pulled a bait-and-switch on people, particularly [noncommissioned officers] and officers that joined before 9/11 and joined a reserve component that was a strategic reserve, not an operational reserve.”

But airmen who joined the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve after the 9/11 attacks clearly understand the requirements of that service, Gates noted. He said that so far retention – in all components – has not been a problem.

The secretary told the servicemembers he would like to see more “dwell time” at home stations between deployments, and that the services are moving in that direction. The Marine Corps is now up to about one year deployed and 1.7 years at home. The surge into Afghanistan probably has slowed the Army’s progress, he acknowledged, “but they’re still at about 15 months at home to a year deployed, and headed toward 18 or 19 months by the end of this year or the beginning of the next,” he said.

Gates pledged that all services will keep a sharp eye on retention and the tools and incentives the department uses to manage the force.

---------------------------------------------------------

Last March 8th, 2010, Deputy Secretary William Lynn on Northrop Grumman, announced that their decision which the Northrop Grumman not to submit a bid for the U.S. Air Force Tanker replacement program which remains only for Boeing within the mileston was given for the contract submition. That means the tankers contract give the opportunity to grow the Boeing Economic and suppliers and partners will be able to support the global economic. Unemployees rate will be able to drop for the Washington State, many other state and around the world. It was long years to compete this and so many obsticles... hopefully all of these obsticles will be cleared for when it's complete this contract. See the following announcement by the Northrop Grumman Tanker Announcement.

On March 4th, 2010, The Boeing announced that the Boeing Company will offer what they calling the "NewGen Tanker" in the competition to supply the U.S. Air Force with a multi-mission aerial refueling aircraft.

Before the Air Force build the sky tanker, the Boeing was built the Sky tanker and the legacy carried even now.....that you will be able to see the Boeing NewGen Tanker as the following:

This NewGen Tanker will supply the U.S. Air Force with a multi-mission aerial refueling aircraft that will meet all the warfighter's mission requirements for the next several decades.

Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security,stated that the Boeing NewGen Tanker will satisfy all mandatory Air Force requirements and offer an American-made tanker which will be capable, survivable, and combat-ready at the lowest cost to the taxpayer and it is ready "It's a proven team and existing infrastructure that is ready to deliver these NewGen Tankers on Day One. It is much more fuel efficency and improves the environment for the climate changes than A330 and lighter and safe.

See more detail via Boeing News:

The tax payers want to see the tanker deal to be completed as soon as possible which started since year 2003, more than 7 years for the tanker contract to wrap up..........There are many officials are supporting this tanker deal for the Boeing Company to recover their economic and recover the United State's and the global economic including the U.S Senators, Senator Maria Cantwell and Senator Patty Murray. Senator Maria Cantwell stated that the study shows that the tanker deal will be able to build the military's new midair refueling aircraft in the United States will translate into some 71,000 jobs across the United States. Of that total, Cantwell said, Boeing Co. estimates that some 12,000 tanker jobs will be based in Washington state at Boeing and its nearly 70 Washington-based suppliers:

Senator Patty Murray is confident that Washington workers are ready to deliver for our service members on all of these requirements which the Boeing meets all the requirements and the Boeing submitted the RFP on time for The final request for proposal to bids for a new aerial tanker for the Air Force February 24, 2010. Senator Patty Murray is continue to ensure that in the end this contract serves the taxpayers’ best interests.

Fuel the sky and keep safe fly around the world. The sky tankers should be around the world to keep safe fly like the gas station is around the world including the war fighters in order to keep the peace around the world like the humanitarian services and so on.....the tanker deal will keep in shape of disaster preventions and recover.

Sources:

Boeing News

Senator Maria Cantwell

Senator Patty Murray

Sonecon

 

Reported by catch4all.com, Sandra Englund, March 12, 2010, Rev. March 15, 2010

-----------------------------------------

Boeing Statement on Release of US Air Force KC-X Tanker Final Request for Proposal

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The Boeing Company today received the final Request for Proposal (RFP) document for the U.S. Air Force KC-X Tanker competition, and released the following statement from Jean Chamberlin, vice president and general manager, Boeing USAF Tanker Program:

"Boeing has begun the process of closely studying the details of the KC-X Tanker final RFP. Today's release of the final RFP is an important milestone for our Air Force customer. Not only does it mean that the KC-X competition can proceed, it also is a strong signal that America is moving forward on replacing its air refueling capability -- a critical enabler for projecting power and protecting this nation.

"We've said consistently that it is up to the Air Force to determine the KC-X requirements for a new generation of tankers. It's our responsibility to respond to those requirements. While we appreciated the open dialogue with the Air Force throughout this process, we are disappointed that the RFP does not address some of our key concerns, including Airbus' unfair competitive advantage derived from subsidies from its sponsor European governments -- subsidies that the World Trade Organization has found to be illegal and harmful to U.S. workers and industry -- and how fuel and military-construction costs over the life of the tankers will be factored into consideration of the competing bids. We will review the RFP in its entirety and in detail before offering further assessment."

Contact: William Barksdale
Boeing Tanker Communications
Mobile: 314-707-3294
Office: 314-232-0860
william.a.barksdale@boeing.com

Dan Beck Boeing
Defense, Space & Security
Mobile: 562-243-7082
Office: 703-414-6447
daniel.c.beck@boeing.com

Source:

Boeing News

-----------------------------------------------------------------


The tax payers want to make sure that unfair subsidies must be judged and take serious consideration for the global world trade center harmonized balance and fair economic trade in which will make the money market to grow for world bank and keeping suppliers and partners in line as the world market circulates what it's should be even if the world bank is already crashed. It makes sense to start fresh again without the subsidies and let the finance bank grow in order to keep the economic circulates instead of freezing the bank with subsidies like Airbus has been for 37 years and more.

The subsidies in question include those relating to the entire family of Airbus products (A300 through the A380) (2) .

The Air Force is trying to be as fair as humanly possibly about this competition, certainly, the tax payer expecting that to be included about the unfair EU subsidies for the Boeing Company. On 17 October 2008, the Chairman of the panel informed the DSB that due to, inter alia, the substantive and procedural complexities, and the volume of materials involved in this dispute, it expected to complete its works in 2009. On 3 December 2009, the Chairman of the panel informed the DSB that due to, inter alia, the substantive and procedural complexities, and the volume of materials involved in this dispute, it now expected to complete its work before the end of April 2010.

See more detail via WTO European Communities - Measures Affecting Trade in Large Civil Aircraft Timetable as of February 11th, 2010: (1) (5)

According to the request for consultations from the United States, measures by the EC and the member States provide subsidies that are inconsistent with their obligations under the SCM Agreement and GATT 1994. The measures include: the provision of financing for design and development to Airbus companies (“launch aid”); the provision of grants and government-provided goods and services to develop, expand, and upgrade Airbus manufacturing sites for the development and production of the Airbus A380; the provision of loans on preferential terms; the assumption and forgiveness of debt resulting from launch and other large civil aircraft production and development financing; the provision of equity infusions and grants; the provision of research and development loans and grants in support of large civil aircraft development, directly for the benefit of Airbus, and any other measures involving a financial contribution to the Airbus companies. The subsidies in question include those relating to the entire family of Airbus products (A300 through the A380). (2) (1)

Here are the chairpersons for WTO Bodies: (6)

You will be able to see the WTO PROGRAMME OF MEETINGS FOR 2010. (7)

Sources:

The Boeing News

DOD

(1) WTO

(2)http://catch4all.com/positive/2006/EUsubsidies11.htm

(3) WTO Events Calendar 2010

Schedule

(4) 2nd Complaint

(5) WTO summary of the disput to date

(6) Chairpersons of WTO Bodies — 2010

(7) WTO Programme of Meetings for 2010

http://catch4all.com/positive/2009/KC_X/index2_KC_7A7.htm

Reported by catch4all.com, Sandra Englund, February 24th, 2010

 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Washington State Governors launch
U.S. Tanker 2010 Coalition, call for
Pentagon to award refueling tanker to Boeing

Prior to serving as Governor, She served three terms as attorney general—the first woman to be elected to the position in Washington. She led a statewide program that resulted in a comprehensive reform of the state's juvenile system, fought to pass tougher ethics laws for state government, sought alternatives to litigation for legal disputes, and to protect privacy and combat identity theft. Governor Chris Gregoire was the lead negotiator in the groundbreaking settlement of state lawsuits against the tobacco industry and was named the most influential attorney general in the country by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Governor Chris Gregoire was appointed in 1988 to serve as director of the Washington Department of Ecology, where she negotiated the safe cleanup and permanent storage of radioactive wastes at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.

She was raised in Auburn, Washington by her mother, who worked as a short order cook. She rode horses, picked blueberries and learned the value of hard work and a good education.

For Immediate Release: February 22, 2010

WASHINGTON DC - Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and Gov. Mark Parkinson of Kansas today announced the U.S. Tanker 2010 Coalition. The coalition is advocating for the awarding of the U.S. Air Force refueling tanker contract to the Boeing Company.

"It's important that we keep Americans at work. Awarding Boeing the contract to supply our next fleet of tankers will ensure work for 40,000 to 50,000 people across the country," Gregoire said. "There's been enough delay already on the military's efforts to build a next generation tanker, and Boeing is ready to start building them today."

The coalition is a bi-partisan effort of elected officials, business and labor organizations committed to ensuring the bid selected is the one that can produce the best product for the Air Force, will create the most American jobs and wisely spends taxpayer dollars.

"Our military men and women deserve the best possible equipment; and where refueling tankers are concerned, the Boeing tanker is hands-down the best choice. It is the most agile, the most efficient and because it would be made right here in America, it is the safest choice," Parkinson said. "With a Boeing tanker, we will be making a major investment in our national security and creating thousands of American jobs when they are needed most. I urge the military to move quickly and provide our troops with the equipment they deserve and the Boeing tankers they need."

Joining Gregoire and Parkinson in the coalition are Governors John Baldacci of Maine, Chet Culver of Iowa, Gary Herbert of Utah, Ted Kulongoski of Oregon, Jay Nixon of Missouri, Pat Quinn of Illinois and Jodi Rell from Connecticut.

Today Boeing employs 155,000 workers located across all 50 states. Awarding the contract to Boeing would build U.S. industrial capacity and retains U.S. jobs. "With a lagging economy, we can't afford to send thousands of jobs and billions of dollars overseas. We need these jobs right here at home. Boeing is one of Missouri's largest employers and the best company to build these refueling tankers," said Nixon.

The U.S. Tanker 2010 Coalition will continue to grow in the coming weeks and plans to energize the national debate about which aircraft best serves the national interest. Boeing has been producing refueling tankers since the 1940s and its plants are fully functional and production ready today.

"The US military needs tanker planes that are ready to go, and we here in Maine have the workers and skills to make it happen," said Baldacci. "It just makes the most sense for us economically and militarily to award Boeing the tanker contract."

"My top priority for the State of Connecticut remains clear: jobs, jobs, jobs. This bipartisan coalition of governors is stepping up for our respective states to ensure the next mid-air refueling tanker is built in the U.S. to help boost job creation and retention while promoting business opportunities that all states need at this critical time," said Rell. "The bottom line is Connecticut's participation in the U.S. Tanker 2010 Coalition will go a very long way in bolstering our economy while strengthening the country's national security now and for many years to come."

The U.S. Tanker 2010 Coalition is also making the case that Boeing is the single best choice to protect our nation and protect national interests.

The Pentagon is expected to release the final tanker Request For Proposals (RFP) as early as Tuesday, February 23, 2010.

For more information about the coalition,

visit: www.ustanker2010.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gorvernor Chris Gregoire believes clean energy in Washington State: She participates and doing the actions for the Washington State environmental support. She involves the national leadership including economic to recover as soon as possible for the Washington State, this means the most important "Make Sustaining Program Boeing Tankers" i.e., Global sky tanker the Boeing Company NewGen Tanker which will save over 50,000 jobs in addition to save the suppliers and partners around the world in order to overcoming the global economic crisis and critical to save all this matter which become the most essential matter for saving the global climate changes......see the following movies her action explains all......

Like what Governor Chris Gregoire says that "My top priority for the State of Connecticut remains clear: jobs, jobs, jobs. This bipartisan coalition of governors is stepping up for our respective states to ensure the next midair refueling tanker is built in the US to help boost job creation and retention while promoting business opportunities that all states need at this critical time," said Rell. The US Tanker 2010 Coalition will go a very long way in bolstering our economy while strengthening the country's national security now and for many years to come.

Saving the Boeing Tanker 7A7 www.ustanker2010.com will be the basic foundation to save the global crisis which make sense to saving the Boeing Company, the global Suppliers and The Global partners around the world. This will start saving the world in harmony.........

WASHINGTON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn and other top officials began briefing senior lawmakers on Wednesday about the final terms for a $35 billion aerial refueling plane competition.

Lynn, Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter and Air Force Secretary Michael Donley, accompanied by dozens of senior officers and staff, met with Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, and the top Republican on the committee, Senator John McCain, before going to brief House lawmakers. Lynn and the other officials declined comment after leaving the meeting, saying they would speak publicly at a 4 p.m. EST (2100 GMT) news conference at the Pentagon.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates this week said the final request for proposals was "very fair" and he hoped both Boeing Co (BA.N) and Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N) would compete, despite Northrop's insistence that it will pull out unless significant changes were made from September's draft.

As much as it is critical to save the economic crisis, we cannot offered not having the Boeing NewGen Tanker. In that, Governor Chris Gregoire is making the action The US Tanker 2010 Coalition is also making the case that Boeing is the single best choice to protect our nation and protect national interests.

COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THE TAX PAYERS HOPING AND PRAYING THAT THE BOEING NewGen Tanker TO SAVE AND SUSTAINING....AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. LET'S BREAK THE ICE WHAT IT'S BEEN SO MANY YEARS HAVE WAITED TOO LONG TO GET THIS SINCE KC-767 TANKER TO NewGen Tanker......United States Tanker - The Boeing NewGen Tanker exceed the Requirements and low cost. UNEMPLOYEES ARE INCREASING AND INCREASING .....HOPEFULLY THIS WILL SUPPORT THE CRISIS WHEN WE HAVE THE SUSTAINING PROGRAM NewGen Tanker.

Sources:

Reuters

State of Washington Communication

Reported by catch4all.com, Sandra Englund, February 24th, 2010

-------------------------------------

* Pentagon trying to be
"as fair as humanly possible"
* Air Force bracing for possible
sole-source bid Boeing

(Adds Pentagon comment, background on past competitions)

Lt. Gen. Mark D. "Shack" Shackelford is the Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. He is responsible for research and development, test, production, and modernization of Air Force programs worth more than $23 billion annually.

General Shackelford holds Department of Defense Acquisition Corps Level III certifications in Test and Evaluation; Program Management; and Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering. He holds master level certification in the Space Professional Development Program. The general is a distinguished graduate of undergraduate pilot training, F-16 Fighter Weapons School and the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Director, Global Power Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C

WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force said on Thursday it expects to issue final terms for a heated aerial tanker competition next week, and is bracing for a possible sole-source bid from Boeing Co (BA.N).

"We are not walking blindly into a situation where we just have one potential offerer," Lieutenant General Mark Shackelford, military deputy in charge of acquisition for the Air Force, told a defense conference hosted by Aviation Week.

He said the Air Force had interacted "to a great extent" with both companies to understand their concerns about draft rules for the competition, but was being careful not to "change anything that potentially favors one competitor over another."

Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N) has said it will not bid unless the Air Force makes significant changes to a draft request for proposals released in September. "We can't force them to compete, nor are we willing to make a change in the process solely to their advantage. That's part of the walk-down-the-middle philosophy," Shackelford told reporters after his remarks. He said a final request for proposals was expected between Feb. 23 and month's end.

Geoff Morrell, Pentagon press secretary, said certain adjustments were being made, but rejected any suggestion that the changes were intended to "favor one party or another."

"I can tell you definitively that couldn't be further from the truth. We are trying to be as fair as humanly possibly about this competition," Morrell told reporters, adding that the revised rules should be released in the "coming weeks."

"Our only goal here is to get our warfighters a new tanker... and to get the taxpayers the best deal for their money. We don't have a dog in this fight otherwise. We don't care who wins," he said.

Shackelford, asked how the Air Force could avoid cost increases and other problems associated with past sole-source acquisitions, said the Air Force would have access to detailed information that would allow it to judge the realism of any proposal submitted and structure the contract accordingly.

He said the Air Force also had insight into likely costs since the planes were derivatives of commercially sold aircraft. "So this is by no means a 'sky is falling' scenario if we wind up with one offerer," he said.

This is the Air Force's third attempt to begin replacing its aging fleet of 50-year-old aerial tankers, which refuel fighter jets and other warplanes in mid-flight.

Congress scrapped the first plan, a $23.5 billion deal under which the Air Force planned to lease and then buy 100 Boeing 767-based tankers, amid a major procurement scandal that sent a former Air Force official to prison.

The Pentagon canceled its second attempt after government auditors upheld a Boeing protest against a projected $35 billion contract awarded to Northrop and its European partner EADS (EAD.PA) in February 2008.

The Air Force told the companies last week that it was sticking to its plans for a fixed-price type contract for development of the new planes, and bids would be due 75 days from the date of the final request for proposals.

The service intends to pick a winner in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, which ends Sept. 30.

Sources:

Thu Feb 18, 2010 2:42pm EST Reuters Market News Update2:U.S. Air Force sees tanker terms by end Feb.

WASHINGTON, Feb 8 (Reuters) .CFDsProsNews:

-----------------------------

In September 16th, 2009, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, stated that " I am pleased to announce that source selection authority is returning to the Air Force for the KC-X refueling tanker, with a draft Request for Proposals to follow".

DOD Announced Requirement for New Aerial Tanker Competition on September 24th, 2009.

The second time the contract has been competed by The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, recommended that the Air Force re-bid the contract - originally won by a Northrop-Grumman/EADS/Airbus consortium in February 2008. Boeing protested the decision, and in June 2008 the GAO agreed that there were irregularities in the contracting process.

The following was made as potential issues by the congress back in 2008 (search) although, the Boeing protested the decision, and in June 2008 the GAO agreed that there were irregularities in the contracting process:


The Congress stated that this report will be updated as conditions warrant:


The United States Air Force issued the KC-X request for proposal in January 2007, then selected the Northrop Grumman/EADS team and their Airbus A330-based tankers in February 2008. In June 2008, the U.S. Government Accountability Office sustained a protest by Boeing on the award of the contract. In July 2008, the U.S. Defense Department reopened the bidding process, but canceled the KC-X solicitation in September 2008. In September 2009, the USAF began the first steps toward accepting new bids.

The source selection strategy executed by Air Force Source selection authority: buying 179 KC-X aircraft (KC-Y and KC-Z to follow) was unchanged even though the Warfighter requirements unchanged, but the KC-X should be "ready to go to war on day 1" the section criteria was more precise with the less subjective. Draft Request for Proposal (RFP) released September 25, 2009. In February 17th, 2010, Lieutenant General Mark, military deputy in charge of acquisition for the Air Force Shackelford, mentioned that "We are not walking blindly into a situation where we just have one potential offerer,"during the DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY & REQUIREMENTS 2010 February 17-18, 2010 Marriott Washington Metro Center Washington, DC

It may have the concerns about draft rules for the competition, but this was being careful not to "change anything that potentially favors one competitor over another."

The final request for proposals was expected between Feb. 23 and month's end.

United States Tanker - The Boeing NewGen Tanker exceed the Requirements and low cost.

When the Boeing Company gets the contracts the unemployee rate will go down which caused by the Golobal fincial crash and the canceled KC-767 tanker deal. Last week we had 1020 employees laid off by the Boeing Company Washington State and California for the IT Boeing Employees which will continue to lay off from Oregon State for 10,000 employees by the Boeing Company. The contract for KC-X will be able to rescue the Washington State and other state's economic and the Tax payers are waiting to get this contract as soon as possible. The currently, almost one in ten people in Washington are out of work. This is the Washington State situation now. We all are pray that the Boeing Company gets some support by from the around the world and by the global action. This is not normal when the Washington State is in global crisis situation the global world is in that same situation due to the Washington State has the most global attraction by the suppliers and parterners around the world.

The Washington State, Governor Gregoire and Many Senators and Representatives including Senator, Paull Shin,Senator Tracy Eide, Rep. Skip Pries, Rep. Mark Miloscia also others are working hard in order to put people back to work and recover Boeing Company and other companies. .

Sources:

wikipedia

United States Tanker: The Boeing NewGen Tanker

Department of Defense

YouTube
1) http://catch4all.com/positive/2008/Boeing/KC-X/WashingtonSenateLetterToUS_Leaders3_4_08.htm

Reported by catch4all.com, Sandra Englund, February 21st, 2010

--------Flash Back--------
 
DOD Announces Requirement
for New Aerial Tanker Competition
 
on September 24th, 2009

 
Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates,
National Harbor, MD,
Wednesday, September 16, 2009

" I am pleased to announce that source selection authority is returning to the Air Force for the KC-X refueling tanker, with a draft Request for Proposals to follow"


 
KC-135 Stratotanker Tribute:
A simple photo montage honoring the 50th anniversary of
the KC-135 Stratotanker

KC-135 Stratotanker Tribute:
A simple photo montage honoring the 50th anniversary of
the KC-135 Stratotanker

UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE


DOD Announces Requirement for New Aerial Tanker Competition

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2009 - The needs of warfighters and value for taxpayers are at the heart of the new draft request for proposal for aerial refueling capability, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn said here today. Lynn, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley and Ashton B. Carter, defense undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics, briefed the Pentagon press on the draft RFP to replace the Air Force's aging KC-135R tanker fleet.

This is the second time the contract has been competed. The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, recommended that the Air Force re-bid the contract - originally won by a Northrop-Grumman/EADS/Airbus consortium in February 2008. Boeing protested the decision, and in June 2008 the GAO agreed that there were irregularities in the contracting process.

The GAO said the previous process for selecting a winner was too subjective. DOD took this to heart, and officials stressed this draft RFP is not a rerun of the last competition. "This time we will be crystal clear about what we want and what the bidders need to do to win," Lynn said.

Price is important in the competition, but it will not be the only factor, Lynn said. "First of all, we'll look at price from a broad perspective, not just acquisition cost," he said. "We're going to include certain aspects of life-cycle cost, in particular fuel burn and military construction; and we're going to look at non- price factors, particularly how each aircraft that the companies might bid would meet warfighting requirements."

DOD and Air Force officials worked closely together to ensure the process this time will be fair, open and transparent. Air Force and DOD officials developed the source selection strategy and it has been approved by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. "The Air Force source selection authority will execute this strategy," Lynn said.

The warfighter requirements - devised by Air Mobility Command - for the tanker fleet have not changed since the last procurement try. "But the warfighter has specified which requirements are necessary for the tanker to 'go to war on Day 1,'" he said. These requirements are on an acceptable/not acceptable basis, he said. The team has also identified capabilities that would provide some additional value, but are not mandatory.

The buy is for 179 aircraft valued at around $35 billion. If all goes as planned the contract could be awarded next summer. The draft RFP will hit the streets tomorrow. It will be a fixed-price incentive contract in the development phase, and the first five production lots will be a firm fixed-price contract. The remaining production will be a not-to-exceed contract. "This is going to constrain prices considerably, we believe," Lynn said. "It's shifting the department from a cost-plus world more towards a fixed-price world, and we think that that's going to be an important element in avoiding cost overruns."

Air Force Secretary Donley said the newest KC-135R entered the Air Force in 1964. The first production model of whatever aircraft is selected would enter the force in 2015 with an initial operating capability set for 2017. Donley said the defense and Air Force teams reviewed the 808 requirements the old RFP had. "We conducted extensive reviews of the requirements, eliminating duplication, refining definitions, combining where appropriate and ensuring all requirements were measurable," Donley said. The draft RFP has 373 mandatory requirements. Still there is some value in non-mandatory capabilities, and Donley said the team identified 93 of these added-value capabilities and assigned points to them.

The defense officials said they want to make the selection process as objective as possible. The RFP spells out exactly what warfighting capabilities are needed, but also details what efficiencies are desired, said Undersecretary Carter. To test warfighting effectiveness, evaluators fly each of the offeror's aircraft against he Integrated Fleet Aerial Refueling Assessment model, Carter said.

The model posits a situation where the United States is executing several major war plans simultaneously, and tanker demand is at a peak. The model will answer the question of how many tanker aircraft are needed to execute these real-world war plans.

But there is another consideration: The cost of ownership, Carter said. "These are the elements, of the life-cycle cost of the tanker, that are under the control of the offerors and which therefore can fairly be used to discriminate the offerors," he said. "The vendors do determine the aircraft design, which in turn determines how much fuel they will burn, over the next 40 years, carrying out the day-to-day tasks."

Military construction projects needed to accommodate the aircraft are also taken under consideration, he said. Costs to adjust hangars, ramps, taxiways and runways for the aircraft will be taken into account. "So both wartime effectiveness and peacetime efficiency we will assess for each aircraft," Carter said. "We will 'dollarize' those assessments and in dollar terms adjust the bid prices."

---------------------------------------------------------

The Pentagon press on the draft RFP to replace the Air Force's aging KC-135R tanker fleet.

The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker was the first jet powered aerial refueling tanker of the US Air Force, replacing the KC-97 Stratotanker. Similar in design to the later and enlarged Boeing 707 airliner, it was initially tasked to refuel strategic bombers, but was used extensively in the Vietnam war and later conflicts such as Desert Storm to extend the range and endurance of both Air Force and Navy tactical fighters and bombers.

Serving with the United States Air Force since 1957, it is one of just six military aircraft with over 50 years of continuous service with the original service along with the Tupolev Tu-95, the C-130 Hercules, the B-52 Stratofortress, and the Lockheed U-2. Supplemented by the larger KC-10, complete replacement by aircraft based on the Boeing 767 and KC-30 are still under study by the Air Force. Despite increased maintenance costs, studies conclude many of the aircraft could be flown until 2040, with ages reaching 80 years before reaching lifetime flying hour limits.

C-135 Stratolifter
Role Aerial refuelling and transport
National origin United States
Manufacturer Boeing
First flight 31 August 1956
Introduction June 1957
Status Active service
Primary users

United States Air Force
French Air Force
Republic of Singapore Air Force
Turkish Air Force

Produced 1954-1965
Number built 803
Unit cost US$39.6 million (FY98 constant dollars)
Developed from Boeing 367-80
Variants C-135 Stratolifter

Eventually the KC-135s will retire along the way by 3 stages
Replacing the entire tanker fleet over 40 years
.

United States Air Force operated 505 KC-135 aircraft as of September 2007 (199 active duty, 80 reserve, and 226 guard).

According to DOD news dated April 15, 2009 report shows that, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates is committed to moving forward on the re-bid for the Air Force’s KC-X tanker as quickly as possible. On June 9, 2009, He stated that he wants to ensure that it is a fair, open, and transparent process.

September 16, 2009 DOD report shows that He is pleased to announce that source selection authority is returning to the Air Force for the KC-X refueling tanker and the Air Force is committed to the integrity of the selection process.

On the other side, the tax payers want to make sure that unfair subsidies must be judged and take serious consideration for the global world trade center harmonized balance and fair economic trade in which will make the money market to grow for world bank and keeping suppliers and partners in line as the world market circulates what it's should be even if the world bank is already crashed. It makes sense to start fresh again without the subsidies and let the finance bank grow in order to keep the economic circulates instead of freezing the bank with subsidies like Airbus has been for 37 years and more.

Once the KC-X accepted by the Boeing, more than 12,000 unemployees will be able to going back to work what they should and will be able to pay their tax pay to the Government to recover the economic and improve the nation and balance the global economic with the suppliers and partners all around the world. Many suppliers and partners are waiting to pick up Boeing KC-X.

The subsidies in question include those relating to the entire family of Airbus products (A300 through the A380) (1) .

According to the request for consultations from the United States, measures by the EC and the member States provide subsidies that are inconsistent with their obligations under the SCM Agreement and GATT 1994. The measures include: the provision of financing for design and development to Airbus companies (“launch aid”); the provision of grants and government-provided goods and services to develop, expand, and upgrade Airbus manufacturing sites for the development and production of the Airbus A380; the provision of loans on preferential terms; the assumption and forgiveness of debt resulting from launch and other large civil aircraft production and development financing; the provision of equity infusions and grants; the provision of research and development loans and grants in support of large civil aircraft development, directly for the benefit of Airbus, and any other measures involving a financial contribution to the Airbus companies. The subsidies in question include those relating to the entire family of Airbus products (A300 through the A380)(2)

The Boeing Company has more than 77 years of experience since they have built the aerial refueling transport.

Reported by catch4all.com, Sandra Englund, September 24th, 2009.

Resources:

Department of Defense

YouTube:
1) http://catch4all.com/positive/2008/Boeing/KC-X/WashingtonSenateLetterToUS_Leaders3_4_08.htm

2) WTO dispute settlement - the diputes DS310.

Wikipedia

Yahoo

 

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