Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, suggested the possibility of splitting a controversial $35 billion tanker contract from the U.S. Air Force between the Boeing Co. and a team of Northrop Grumman Corp. and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., according to a report from Reuters.
According to the report, Abercrombie spoke of the possibility at a defense industry conference. Abercrombie is the chairman of House of Representatives' Armed Services Committee's panel on air and land forces, which the Air Force falls under. "I think we can come to a reasoned conclusion on getting both bids accepted," Abercrombie said, according to the report.
The Air Force initially awarded the contract to Northrop and EADS. But after protests from Boeing and a report from the Government Accountability Office that faulted the Air Force on the bidding process, the government reopened the bid on an expedited basis. Then, in September 2008, the U.S. Defense Department canceled competitive bidding on the contract, giving both sides what then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates called a "cooling off" period.
| I'm of two minds on this: having two aircraft types creates certain logistical and training headaches for the Air Force, and I understand it's easier if you have but one type of tanker. But keeping both companies in the tanker game might be better in the long run -- nothing wrong with extending the competition to subsequent orders so as to ensure a better price. Make the deal 70/30 or so to provide real incentive to win the bigger share of the prize. |
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