Northrop Grumman rates its chances of clinching the KC-X contract as only 50 percent, if the U.S. Congress intervenes in the decision. Paul Meyer, who heads the company’s bid team, told Aviation International News of his confidence that the Pentagon would select the KC-45 again the second time around. But he fears that protectionist sentiment could overturn the verdict.
Meanwhile, Boeing vice president of Military Aircraft marketing Chris Raymond insisted, “this is not about protectionism–we’re a global company.” He said that Boeing had never previously protested an award, but had done so this time “because of the magnitude,” and the principle. Raymond disputed U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ comment last week that Boeing’s protest had only been sustained on eight counts out of more than one hundred. “We had 15 issues. Seven of these were sustained by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and on another three, they told the Air Force to make further studies,” Raymond said.
