Article

2008-07-10 Home Front Economy

Pentagon to Rebid $40 Billion Air Force Contract

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Fred 2008-07-10 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11125 views ] Top

#1 Shoot makes sense to me Fred. Maybe help increase the production shedule to make up lost time and have some mission diversity.

Posted by swksvolFF 2008-07-10 11:41|| 2008-07-10 11:41|| Front Page Top

#2 Maybe the AF should review the specs in the RFP that allowed Boeing to think it could win with an outdated aircraft.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2008-07-10 12:01|| 2008-07-10 12:01|| Front Page Top

#3 When visiting airshows and talking to the brave men and women who fly the refuelers--boy they are old, old aircraft. If making it impossible for America to fight or have a useful Air Force is the goal, it's only a decade away.

Posted by Herb Jomolet3634 2008-07-10 12:52|| 2008-07-10 12:52|| Front Page Top

#4 Gosh-darn it, we're going to rebid this until Boeing wins! I don't care how many times it takes!

- Sec'y Gates

Posted by gromky 2008-07-10 13:11|| 2008-07-10 13:11|| Front Page Top

#5 Not a Boeing-phile, but go back and read the RFP. The USAF screwed the pooch when they wandered from the requirements and started putting a lot of brownie points on the niceties.
And all the wanking about an old airframe; that is only a tube, the real value is in the systems; and those are top shelf. New for new's sake is what gets you Micrsoft Vista.

Posted by USN,Ret. 2008-07-10 14:46|| 2008-07-10 14:46|| Front Page Top

#6 USN Ret hits the bullseye.

BTW, Young is the guy who also (as of June) controls most of what used to be USAF and NRO satellite procurements.

Posted by lotp 2008-07-10 15:43|| 2008-07-10 15:43|| Front Page Top

#7 Is his dad the Best Astronaut ever? I can't find the info.

John Young Jr. that is...

Posted by .5MT 2008-07-10 16:13|| www.cybernations.net]">[www.cybernations.net] 2008-07-10 16:13|| Front Page Top

#8 USAF/NRO satellites? Like the one that failed to ever become operational and got popped by an SM3?

Not exactly inspiring confidence.

I hope they do this contract QUICK, and mark it for split production and subbing out.

My only beef, other than the inferior aircraft and short legs and lower cargo capacity and older design (= more maint), of the Boeing bid was their ramp is VERY slow compared to the NG/EADS delivery schedule.

We need something that's good enough to meet the specs - and we need it damned fast.

This delay isn't helping things at all, no matter what aircraft we end up with.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-07-10 17:46|| 2008-07-10 17:46|| Front Page Top

#9 agree OS with delay unacceptable; if Boeing hadn't poinsoned the well with tanker bid V 1.0 and tried to bribe USAF folks we would already see new birds on the ramp.
i would like to see your info re: maintenance issues, the 767 is proven and has gone thru several system upgrades, the airbust bird hardly exists. ok so it says NG on the grille, but underneath it is still airbust.
for the record: 18 of 26 years active duty was wrenching on Ironworks aircraft, so I do have a soft spot for Bethpage.

Posted by USN,Ret. 2008-07-10 17:55|| 2008-07-10 17:55|| Front Page Top

23:48 Eric Jablow
23:40 Rex Mundi
23:39 OldSpook
23:34 OldSpook
23:17 JosephMendiola
23:09 JosephMendiola
23:01 JosephMendiola
22:53 Bertie Gloter8840
22:43 jds
22:41 Frank G
22:39 jds
22:35 jds
22:28 Nimble Spemble
22:27 lotp
22:27 RD
22:03 RD
21:58 DMFD
21:42 Eric Jablow
21:37 Eric Jablow
21:35 phil_b
21:33 Jan
21:33 OldSpook
21:28 trailing wife
21:17 trailing wife