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KC-X

KC-X program
The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus, the winner of the KC-X program
General information
Project forAerial refueling tanker aircraft
Issued byUnited States Air Force
ProposalsAirbus A330 MRTT
Boeing KC-767
Antonov An-112KC
PrototypesBoeing KC-767
Airbus A330 MRTT
History
Concluded2011
OutcomeRound 1: EADS/Northrop Grumman KC-45 selected for production, but result protested
Round 2: Boeing KC-46 Pegasus selected for production, no protest
PredecessorsCommercial Derivative Air Refueling Aircraft

KC-X was the United States Air Force (USAF) program to procure its next-generation aerial refueling tanker aircraft to replace some of their older Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. The contest was for a production contract for 179 new tankers with estimated value of US$35 billion. The two contenders to replace the KC-135 aircraft were Boeing and EADS, following the elimination of US Aerospace, Inc. from the bidding process.[1]

The KC-X program followed earlier attempts by the USAF to procure a new tanker. A 2002 plan had the USAF leasing Boeing KC-767 tankers, followed by a 2003 modification where the USAF would buy most of the KC-767 aircraft and lease several more of them. Corruption investigations revealed wrongdoing in the award of the contract and the contract was canceled in 2005, setting the stage for the KC-X program.

The USAF issued the KC-X request for proposal in January 2007,[2] then selected the Northrop Grumman/EADS team and their Airbus A330 MRTT-based tankers in February 2008.[3] In June 2008, the U.S. Government Accountability Office sustained a protest by Boeing on the award of the contract.[4][5] In July 2008, the U.S. Defense Department reopened the bidding process,[6] but canceled the KC-X solicitation in September 2008.[7] In September 2009, the USAF began the first steps toward accepting new bids.[8] In March 2010, Northrop Grumman announced that it would pull out of the bidding process.[9] Despite Northrop Grumman's withdrawal, EADS decided to remain in the ongoing competition alone.[10] The Air Force selected Boeing's KC-46 bid on 24 February 2011.[11]

  1. ^ Censer, Marjorie (7 October 2010). "GAO clears Air Force in tanker case". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference DoDRfP was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Gates, Dominic (29 February 2008). "EADS/Northrop trumps Boeing in Air Force tanker competition". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 29 February 2008.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference GAOdecision was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Gary L. Kepplinger, General Counsel (18 June 2008). "B-311344; B-311344.3; B-311344.4; B-311344.6; B-311344.7; B-311344.8; B-311344.10; B-311344.11, The Boeing Company, June 18, 2008".
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Pentagon Reopens was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "DoD Announces Termination of KC-X Tanker Solicitation". 916th Air Refueling Wing. 12 September 2008. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024.
  8. ^ Cole, August; Sanders, Peter (25 September 2009). "Air Force Resumes Tanker Contest". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference FI_NG_declines was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "Avions ravitailleurs : EADS va soumettre une offre en solo". La Tribune (in French). 20 April 2010. Archived from the original on 22 April 2010.
  11. ^ Trimble, Stephen (4 March 2011). "EADS concedes KC-X contract award to Boeing". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022.

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