GAO issues full tanker report

If highly-technical audits of Air Force procurement are your thing, there’s a doozy of one out today.

The Government Accountability Office just released the public version of its 67-page audit of the Air Force’s controversial decision to give its new aerial refueling tanker contract to Northrop Grumman and European Aerospace and Defence Co

Here’s a link.

A quick scan of the report shows no huge surprises: The GAO last week told us of a number of significant flaws in the process – ammunition for Boeing Co. supporters who hope to force the Air Force to re-bid the $35 billion contract – but the full report contains a festival of details about what the GAO found.

Interestingly, after reading the report, several top Pentagon officials have said they feel the contract can move forward and be awarded this year, according to this report in trade publication DefenseTech. It says Pentagon acquisition chief John Young plans to tell Congress he’ll go ahead and award the contract to Northrop despite the GAO’s concerns.

If that happens, expect this contract fight to heat up fast.