KC-X concurso USAF NGrumman(Airbus)XBoeing

[P44]

Non-Subscriber Extract
EADS to make KC-X announcement within weeks


By Keri Wagstaff-Smith

31 March 2010


EADS subsidiary Airbus expects to make a decision on re-entering the United States Air Force's (USAF's) KC-X aerial refuelling tanker competition in the next two to three weeks, a company spokesman has confirmed.

He added, meanwhile, that the EADS group is still eyeing mid-sized acquisitions in the US to bolster its industrial footprint in the world's largest military market.

Speaking to Jane's on 29 March, the spokesman said that EADS' decision on whether or not to place a new bid for the KC-X programme would be made "in due time", but also confirmed reports that Airbus President and Chief Executive Thomas Enders has given a timeframe of two to three weeks.

EADS' and Northrop Grumman's original KC-45 offering was based on an Airbus A330-based solution.

The original KC-X programme was cancelled after Boeing successfully protested the USAF's February 2008 decision to award the USD35 billion contract to the EADS/Northrop team, which withdrew from the revised competition earlier this month on the grounds that it favoured Boeing's smaller KC-767-based offering.

However, EADS said on 19 March that it was considering re-entering the competition, following an indication from the Pentagon that it would welcome a proposal from the group, although it provided no timeframe for this.

The spokesman told Jane's: "We've been asked [by the Pentagon] to bid as a prime contractor. Tom Enders has said that a tanker partner would be helpful ... we need a partner with [the required] competencies."
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http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jdw/j ... _1_n.shtml

[P44]

EADS Plans to Bid for Tanker Contract


(Source: Deutsche Welle German radio; issued April 20, 2010)



The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company has relaunched its bid to supply the US Air Force with new aerial refueling tankers. Rival Boeing says a win by EADS will cost Americans jobs.

European aerospace giant EADS plans to compete with American rival Boeing to bid on a $35 billion (26.1 billion euro) deal to supply the US Air Force with new aerial refueling tankers.

"This is a hell of an opportunity," said Ralph Crosby, chairman of EADS North America, at a press conference in Washington DC on Tuesday.

Crosby said EADS felt "almost compelled" to enter the competition to offer its A330-based tanker, which it feels is superior to Boeing's 767-based tanker. "When you've got the best, you've got to offer it," he said.

EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company) will now bid as the prime contractor for the project. Its US partner Northrop Grumman dropped out six weeks ago, amid complaints that Washington was engaging in protectionism that favored Boeing.

Northrop and EADS won a previous US tanker contract in 2008, but the Pentagon canceled the deal after government auditors upheld a protest by Boeing that said errors were made in the bid process. Bidding reopened earlier this year, and the competing companies now have until July 9 to submit their bids.

Boeing backers

Boeing supporters in Congress criticized the Pentagon for extending the deadline, despite a recent report from the World Trade Organization that pointed out that EADS benefited from government subsidies for its airplanes.

"It means we are bending over backwards to include a company that has broken the rules of fair play," said Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington state, where Boeing would build the 179 airplanes.

Critics also said an EADS contract would end up costing more, both in terms of maintenance costs for the aircraft and American jobs.

Crosby, however, stressed that EADS remained committed to building the planes in the United States, creating tens of thousands of jobs across the country. He added that they were working with its more than 200 suppliers to lower the maintenance costs.

The Pentagon welcomed the renewed competition for the tanker replacement program, and said it expected to decide on a winner by "early fall."

-ends-

[Penguin]

DATE:24/02/11
SOURCE:Flightglobal.com
USAF selects Boeing for KC-X contract
By Stephen Trimble


Boeing has been selected to deliver 179 KC-767 New Gen Tankers to the US Air Force, but the final chapter may yet be unwritten in the long-running KC-X competition between Airbus and Boeing aircraft.
In awarding the $35 billion contract today, the USAF concluded after a seven-month evaluation that the KC-767 would be less expensive to buy and operate than EADS' proposed KC-45.
But the decision may still be challenged by the losing bidder. The USAF's attempt to award a contract three years ago after selecting the KC-45 was overturned by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), citing major inconsistencies between the evaluation criteria and the basis for contract award.
In the subsequent competition launched in September 2009, the USAF adopted a new acquisition strategy for the KC-X competition that emphasises the lowest price over "best value" to determine the winner.
The new strategy caused Northrop Grumman, which had previously led EADS' team, to withdraw from the competition, citing an unfair bidding process. EADS officials, however, decided to enter the competition as a prime contractor after the USAF issued a final request for proposals in March last year.
The USAF's acquisition process also was focused on running an error-free competition, but a critical mistake by the service's source selection team tarnished the process. On 1 November, the USAF discovered that it had mistakenly mailed a package containing evaluation documents to the wrong bidders, which ultimately allowed both competitors to know a preliminary evaluation score for the other team.
The KC-X contract process has been marred by serious errors ever since it began nearly 10 years ago. Two Boeing executives were sent to jail and the chief executive was fired over improprieties discovered when the USAF attempted to award a sole-source deal to lease 100 KC-767As in 2004.

[Carlos Lima]

Hehehe... acho que ninguém duvidava disso...

[]s
CB_Lima

[soultrain]

Bribe pays off!!!

Mesmo depois de haver presos no processo, a companhia que suborna ganha, business as usual...

[P44]

como dizia o Jô Soares , "corruptoooooooooooo corruptoooooooooooooooooo..."

[Alitson]

Bribe pays off!!!

Mesmo depois de haver presos no processo, a companhia que suborna ganha, business as usual...

Eles tem mais é de defender a industria deles, DONUTS o resto.

[P44]

Bribe pays off!!!

Mesmo depois de haver presos no processo, a companhia que suborna ganha, business as usual...

Eles tem mais é de defender a industria deles, DONUTS o resto.

então porque a PALHAÇADA de concurso internacional Onde o concorrente não americano VENCE e por isso o concurso é anulado , de modo a que se arranje novo concurso para que ganhe a equipa da casa?

Palhaçada, e ainda e ainda há quem aplauda...

[Alitson]

Já pensou na Russia comprando A330MRTT em vez de Il-78? Nunca!!!!

[crubens]

Aí o CM ia parar na UTI .

[Penguin]

Lawmakers React to USAF Tanker Pick
By MARCUS WEISGERBER
Published: 24 Feb 2011 19:27
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i= ... =AME&s=AIR

Here are the initial statements from several U.S. lawmakers on the U.S. Air Force's decision to select Boeing to build the service's KC-X next-generation tanker.

- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wa.: "Today's long-awaited decision by the Pentagon is the right one for our military, our taxpayers and our nation's aerospace workers," said Murray, an avid Boeing supporter. Boeing intends to build its 767-based tankers in her home state.

"At a time when our economy is hurting and good-paying aerospace jobs are critical to our recovery, this decision is great news for the skilled workers of Everett and the thousands of suppliers across the country who will help build this critical tanker for our Air Force," she said." This decision is a major victory for the American workers, the American aerospace industry and America's military. And it is consistent with the President's own call to 'out-innovate' and 'out-build' the rest of the world.

- Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Ala.: "After having already won the competition three years ago and having brought to the table the best refueling aircraft for our military, it's deeply disappointing that Mobile and the Gulf Coast were not chosen as the home of the new Air Force tanker," said Bonner. EADS intended to assemble its tankers in Bonner's district of Mobile, Ala. "Unfortunately, the best tanker for our military was not selected. I intend to demand a full accounting as to why.

"While there was great optimism that our team would ultimately prevail, we've also been conditioned to expect the unexpected," he continued. 'This competition has been challenged before and it's not unlikely it will be challenged again. It will ultimately be up to EADS to determine whether they will protest this decision and I will fully support whatever decision they make."

- Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.: "I am deeply disappointed that the EADS team was not selected to build the next air refueling tanker for the Air Force," Sessions said. "Three years ago, EADS won this competition because their aircraft had objectively superior capabilities and offered dramatic savings for the taxpayer. In light of today's result, I intend to examine the process carefully to ensure it was fairly conducted.

"Regardless of today's unfortunate outcome, the EADS team's decision to manufacture the aircraft in Mobile was a clear affirmation by a world-class corporation of our state's remarkable workforce," he continues. "EADS would not have chosen Alabama if they did not firmly believe that our state was a great place to do business in the global economy. I look forward to assisting them in expanding their presence in Alabama."

- Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn.: "I applaud the Obama administration for this decision, especially after such a long process, and I am delighted to see the Department of Defense select the best air refueling tanker for our nation's brave war fighters at the best price for our taxpayers," said DeLauro. Boeing intends to install Pratt & Whitney-built engines, which are built in Connecticut.

"The award comes at a critical time when we need to be creating jobs and driving long-term economic growth, in Connecticut and nationwide," she said. "Along with terminating the costly and unnecessary Joint Strike Fighter alternate engine program, this has been a great week for defense manufacturing jobs in Connecticut."

- Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla.: "Today, I applaud the United States Air Force and Boeing on bringing 50,000 jobs to our nation and taking the first step in assuring current and future U.S. air dominance," Inhofe said. "The KC-135 tanker aircraft has proven essential to our nation's defense as the success of our recent military operations would not have been possible without the utilization of our tanker inventory. Replacing the first 179 aging Eisenhower-era KC-135s is paramount to maintaining our military's strategic advantage.

"Now, we must ensure that funding levels remain constant and quality planes are delivered on time. I look forward to the next steps, including determining basing locations," he said. "The 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus, AFB has long stood ready to train the next generation of tanker operators, and they look forward to continuing the mobility training mission. The 76th Maintenance Wing (MXW) and Oklahoma Air Logistics Center Aerospace Sustainment Directorate at Tinker, AFB will play key roles in maintaining the new tanker."

- Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Kent Conrad, D-N.D., co-chairmen of the Senate Tanker Caucus: "I'm pleased the Defense Department has finally awarded the contract to replace our nation's aging fleet of KC-135 tanker aircraft," said Hatch.

"The awarding of this contract is long overdue," Conrad said. "The men and women of our Air Force need and deserve the most up to date equipment. That includes the best refueling tankers in the world. This announcement is the first step to getting a long, drawn-out process back on track so that we can deploy these much-needed replacements to support our troops."

- Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.: "I am pleased that the Air Force has made a decision to award a contract for a replacement aerial refueling tanker," McCain said. "The tanker aircraft that the Air Force will ultimately buy under this contract will be critical to how joint operations are conducted for the foreseeable future. I look forward to the Air Force demonstrating over the next few weeks how today's decision was made fairly, openly and transparently. Only such a process will ensure that we obtain the most capable aerial refueling tanker at the most reasonable cost."

- House Armed Services Committee leaders: "Today's announcement moves us closer to providing the world's premier aerial fighting forces with a new and much-needed aerial refueling capability," they said. 'Our primary goal on the Armed Services Committee is to provide our military's men and women with the resources they need in the most effective and efficient way possible.

"Moving forward, the committee will continue the necessary oversight to ensure the evaluation was transparent and fair to each competitor," they continued. "We look forward to receiving more information from the Air Force as we review their decision-making processes. The Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee will hold a hearing on this issue as soon as enough information is publicly available."

[Penguin]

DoD: Tanker Decision Protest-Proof
By DAVE MAJUMDAR
Published: 24 Feb 2011 22:42
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i= ... =AME&s=TOP

The Pentagon expects no successful protests to its decision to pick Boeing to build the U.S. Air Force's next tanker, senior officials said Feb. 24.

"The unsuccessful offerer has a right to a protest as part of the process. But as we've said from a year ago when we first came before you, we think we've established a clear, a transparent and an open process. We think we've executed on that, and that will not yield grounds for protest," said Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn. "I think what we can tell you is Boeing was a clear winner."

"The contracts are fixed-price contracts, which is reflective of our belief that this is a tanker that can be well-specified and well-defined, so that it's an appropriate contract structure," Carter said.

However, losing bidder EADS, which had widely been considered the favorite to win the contract, expressed a wait-and-see approach.

"This is certainly a disappointing turn of events, and we look forward to discussing with the Air Force how it arrived at this conclusion," said EADS North America Chief Ralph Crosby in a statement.

Carter said that DoD officials would talk to the companies about the competition upon request.

He added that work on the program would begin soon.

"Yes, the contract is signed, or will be very shortly, and I gave authorization for that this afternoon," he said.

Lynn and Carter, along with Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, made the announcement during a briefing at the Pentagon this evening.

The initial contract was a fixed-price incentive firm contract valued at over $3.5 billion for KC-X engineering and manufacturing development and the delivery of 18 aircraft, dubbed KC-46As, by 2017. The Air Force will eventually spend an estimated $30 billion to buy 179 planes. Based on the modern Boeing 767 twin-engine widebody airliner, the new tankers will replace many Eisenhower-era KC-135 aircraft, based on the Boeing 707.

However, the current contract does not cover the replacement of the entire fleet of KC-135s, which numbers in the hundreds. There are two other competitions which will determine the aircraft that will replace the remainder of the Air Force tanker inventory. Winning the KC-X tender does not mean Boeing has won the follow-on KC-Y and KC-Z contracts, Carter cautioned.

Boeing officials expressed their delight at having won the prized contract.

"Boeing is absolutely honored to have been selected by the Air Force to provide this vital capability," said Dennis Muilenburg, the company's defense chief.

In a Feb. 24 statement, the chairman and ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee vowed "to continue the necessary oversight to ensure the evaluation was transparent and fair to each competitor."

"We look forward to receiving more information from the Air Force as we review their decision-making processes. The Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee will hold a hearing on this issue as soon as enough information is publicly available," said the statement by Reps. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., and Adam Smith, D-Wash.

"A Boeing victory means that the company retains a 50-year franchise in being the sole supplier of aerial refueling tankers to the U.S. Air Force. It's worth tens of billions of dollars to the company and it also assures the commercial arm of EADS will not start building airliners in North America," said Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute.

He said that Boeing's victory caught most observers off guard; an EADS victory seemed all but certain.

"The Boeing victory suggests that the Air Force was concerned about the higher cost of building and then operating an A330, which burns a ton more fuel per flight hour than the Boeing aircraft," he said.

Thompson said service officials did not consider the industrial base when making their selection.

"This is purely about the price and performance of the competing aircraft," he said.

The program is likely to be the largest award during the Obama administration, and a source of steady work for decades.

If EADS decides to protest, the European firm may have the upper hand in a political battle, thanks to Republican control of the House of Representatives and their increased presence in the Senate, said Richard Aboulafia, an analyst at the Teal Group, Fairfax, Va. By contrast, Boeing's political power seems to be waning.

Still, he said, a lengthy battle is all but unavoidable. EADS sees the tanker contract as crucial for breaking into the U.S. military market, Aboulafia said.

Despite EADS' participation, the tanker contract does not signal that the United States is necessarily more open to foreign companies acting as prime contractors for large military contracts.

"I don't think this tells you much about the future access of foreign companies to the U.S. market," Thompson said. "This is a one-shot deal."

The analyst said there were unique factors surrounding the tanker contract.

Because the Air Force wanted a competition, industry sources said, EADS received a number of waivers for several "key performance parameters," including the ability to take off from 7,000-foot runways, fitting into existing hangars, and refueling all types of Air Force aircraft - it reportedly cannot pass fuel to Air Force V-22s. As well, the sources said, the contractor will not be required to integrate government-furnished classified hardware.

EADS and Boeing have been battling over the tanker for nearly a decade. In the early 2000s, the Air Force tried to lease 767-based tankers from Boeing under a sole-source contract, then tried to appease critics by switching to a plan to buy 80 aircraft and lease 20. But opposition to the plan, led by U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), torpedoed the deal in November 2003.

The tanker contract was further marred with the revelation that a senior Air Force contracting official named Darleen Druyun had steered contracts at inflated prices to Boeing in exchange for employment for herself and family members. The contract was formally ended in January 2006.

In January 2007, the Air Force launched the KC-X tanker competition, drawing bids from Boeing and archrival EADS, which partnered with Northrop Grumman. In February 2008, the Northrop-EADS team won the contract with their Airbus A330-based aircraft.

The following month, however, Boeing protested, claiming the Air Force failed to evaluate the two proposals using the published criteria. That June, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) upheld the protest, which led to the cancellation of the program.

The Defense Department attempted to restart the program, but aborted the attempt because a winner could not be picked before the Bush Administration left office.

The KC-X program was restarted for a third time in September 2009 by Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Though the Air Force controls the selection process, the Office of the Secretary of Defense has been closely monitoring the process. In the new competition, military acquisition officials issued 372 requirements for the tanker, but said that the unit cost of each aircraft would be adjusted to reflect lifecycle cost over 40 years. The Air Force would also judge how effectively the aircraft would meet "warfighter effectiveness."

[Gerson Victorio]

Alguém ainda acredita no Super-Tucano gringo?

[Oziris]

E tem brasileiro pensando em vender super-tucano para eles...

[]'s

[Jonas Rafael]

Alguém ainda acredita no Super-Tucano gringo?

Muita gente, pelo que leio por aí.