Donley: No major changes to tanker specs

[unhappycamper]

Donley: No major changes to tanker specs
By Tom Spoth - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Dec 15, 2009 15:15:52 EST

Air Force Secretary Michael Donley on Monday said the Pentagon is unlikely to change the requirements for the competition to build the service’s next refueling tankers.

Donley told reporters that “the requirements part of the RFP (request for proposals) is very strong” and that he “wouldn't anticipate major changes to the RFP in that area," according to a Reuters report.

Lt. Col Jeffry Glenn, a spokesman for Donley, confirmed that the secretary made the comments.

Northrop Grumman president Wes Bush said in a Dec. 1 letter to a Pentagon official that the company and its partner, European Aeronautics Defence and Space Co., would drop out of the tanker competition if the RFP did not eliminate a “clear preference for a smaller aircraft with limited multirole capability.”

Northrop/EADS’ sole competitor for the contract, Boeing Co., has proposed a smaller variant of the tanker.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/12/airforce_donley_tanker_121509/