Originally Posted by
tdracer
Meanwhile, the USAF seems to think that Boeing is finally getting its act together on the KC-46:
US Air Force mulls skipping tanker competition as confidence in Boeing’s KC-46 builds (defensenews.com)
In recent months, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has suggested the Air Force could opt to skip the competition for the bridge tanker, dubbed the KC-Y, and instead buy more KC-46 planes.
“Compared to a year ago at this time … we’d say ‘We’re not using the KC-46, it’s not really operational,’” Hunter said. “There’s been a huge sea change in the last year, and Air Mobility Command has really cleared the way for operational use of the KC-46.”
Last month, AMC announced the KC-46 had been approved to refuel 97% of the aircraft flown on U.S. Transportation Command missions.
Reads like the politicians at the top of the USAF are casting desperately around for an excuse to not have a competition and run the risk of Airbus winning again.
They're talking in glowing terms about an AAR system with a number of Category 1 Defects, and stressing how as it can refuel almost all the transport fleet, glossing over the fact that it can't refuel a big part of the combat fleet.
Gotta give Boeing the unimpeded opportunity to sell another couple of hundred KC-46 at a high enough price that they'll get back the money they've flushed away so far on this program.