Posted on Oct 28, 2023
Lockheed exits Air Force tanker competition, lifting Boeing's KC-46
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Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) has withdrawn from the U.S. Air Force's competition to build at least 75 refueling tankers, the company said, giving Boeing's (BA.N) KC-46 Pegasus a boost in the closely watched multibillion-dollar defense contract.
Airbus (AIR.PA) teamed up with Lockheed as the prime contractor in 2018 to offer its A330 multi-role tanker transport. Now the European aerospace company will continue to pursue the competition but without Lockheed, Airbus said late Monday.
Airbus (AIR.PA) teamed up with Lockheed as the prime contractor in 2018 to offer its A330 multi-role tanker transport. Now the European aerospace company will continue to pursue the competition but without Lockheed, Airbus said late Monday.
Lockheed exits Air Force tanker competition, lifting Boeing's KC-46
Posted from reuters.com
Lockheed Martin
Flying
Posted 6 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The Air Force, which aims to replace hundreds of Eisenhower-era KC-135 tankers in three lots, kicked off a competition in 2022 for its second tranche of as many as 160 jets on top of the 179 KC-46 Pegasus planes Boeing has begun to build. The U.S. later slashed the effort to 75.
Lockheed said it would shift the tanker team and resources to other programs including "aerial refueling solutions in support of the U.S. Air Force's Next-Generation Air-Refueling System (NGAS) initiative."
NGAS is the final tranche of the current tanker replacement program. It is expected to be announced and completed in the 2030s.
The abrupt departure of the Lockheed bid, known as LMXT, surprised some Capitol Hill aides. Advocacy for the LMXT, which would be made in Alabama and Georgia, had been extensive with Lockheed spending heavily to assure that Boeing's plane was not a shoo-in to win the second tranche.
In 2011, Boeing won the first of the three-phase procurement to replace the Air Force's aging tanker fleet, securing a contract for 179 KC-46s."
..."The Air Force, which aims to replace hundreds of Eisenhower-era KC-135 tankers in three lots, kicked off a competition in 2022 for its second tranche of as many as 160 jets on top of the 179 KC-46 Pegasus planes Boeing has begun to build. The U.S. later slashed the effort to 75.
Lockheed said it would shift the tanker team and resources to other programs including "aerial refueling solutions in support of the U.S. Air Force's Next-Generation Air-Refueling System (NGAS) initiative."
NGAS is the final tranche of the current tanker replacement program. It is expected to be announced and completed in the 2030s.
The abrupt departure of the Lockheed bid, known as LMXT, surprised some Capitol Hill aides. Advocacy for the LMXT, which would be made in Alabama and Georgia, had been extensive with Lockheed spending heavily to assure that Boeing's plane was not a shoo-in to win the second tranche.
In 2011, Boeing won the first of the three-phase procurement to replace the Air Force's aging tanker fleet, securing a contract for 179 KC-46s."
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