Who’ll win big tanker contract? Stay tuned.
One of the biggest Air Force acquisition decisions of the decade has been made. But only a select few people know how it turned out. The rest of us just have to wait.
Top Air Force procurement officials met Monday to decide whether to give Boeing or a team of Northrop Grumman and EADS North America a coveted $40 billion contract to build the next generation of Air Force refueling tankers, or to split the contract between the two.
They made their decision, Air Force spokespeople have said, but only a handful of people know what it is, and the buy will not be finalized until top arms buyer John Young actually signs the contract award. Apparently, that hasn’t happened yet.
It was first expected to be yesterday afternoon after the meeting. Then today. Now, a report from Reuters said Young will likely hold off until Wednesday, to make sure every i is dotted and t crossed. So stay tuned.
Once Young signs the thing, top Air Force brass will brief key lawmakers, the companies and then the media. Whatever day that occurs, official word will not be released until the markets close, at 3 p.m. Central Time.
And while there’s probably nothing to be made of it – as neither company has yet been told the results – Boeing, which most analysts favor to win, and Northrop, were trumpeting different levels of confidence this morning.
When asked if they’ll be holding a news conference, Boeing spokesman William Barksdale said his company plans a conference call “if we win.”
Northrop spokesman Tim Paynter, on the other hand, promised to be in touch “when we win.”
Hmmm.
I wish they’d just tell us. I also want Boeing to win and then let the USAF make another order for cargo planes for which EADS could compete, since they tried to sell the USAF cargo planes that happened to deliver fuel, too.
Also, the top of the story needs to change “… decade as been made.” to “… decade has been made.”