Air Force Air Refueling: The KC-X Aircraft Acquisition Program

Abstract

KC-X is the first of three planned programs intended to recapitalize the Air Force's air refueling fleet. Eventually, the KC-X program is expected to acquire 179 new, commercial off-the-shelf airliners modified to accomplish air refueling. The program is expected to cost approximately $35 billion. Both Boeing and a consortium consisting of Northrop Grumman and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) competed for KC-X. Boeing offered a variant of the 767-200, while Northrop Grumman submitted a version of the Airbus 330-200. On February 29, 2008, the Air Force awarded the KC-X contract to Northrop Grumman. The initial $12.1 billion KC-X contract covers purchase the first 68 KC-45s of the anticipated 179 aircraft. Boeing protested the Air Force's decision to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). GAO upheld the Boeing protest, and in July, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that he would reopen the tanker competition.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 04, 2008
Accession Number
ADA486067

Entities

People

  • Christopher Bolkcom
  • William Knight

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Mobility Operations
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Commercial Aircraft
  • Logistics
  • Military Aircraft
  • National Security
  • Refueling In Flight
  • Tanker Aircraft
  • Transport Aircraft
  • United States Transportation Command
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.

Technology Areas

  • Space