Airbus and Boeing Await KC-X Tanker Award Today | Aviation International News

Airbus and Boeing Await KC-X Tanker Award Today

Airbus and Boeing officials are expecting a call from the Pentagon at 4:45 p.m.

Airbus’s A330MRTT appears to be poised to win the long-running battle to supply the U.S. Air Force with its next generation tanker.

By Charles Alcock • Managing Editor

February 24, 2011

Airbus and Boeing officials are expecting a call from the Pentagon at 4:45 p.m. Eastern Standard Time this afternoon to inform them which company has won the $35 billion contract for the new U.S. Air Force KC-X tanker. The Pentagon will then make a public announcement about the award at 5:10 p.m. EST, Airbus and Boeing spokespeople told AIN.

According to some industry speculation, the long-running and highly contentious competition to supply the USAF with its next-generation aerial-refueling tanker will go to Airbus. Some Boeing contacts have told AIN that Boeing officials are not expecting to win the contract, while EADS contacts expressed careful confidence that Airbus will receive it. However, the sources from both companies officially stated that they have no firm information on the contract at this time. Regardless which company wins the award, the losing bidder could contest the decision, dragging eventual deliveries even further into the future.

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