Boeing releases its KC-X bid

I'm a little late on this--man, did I have a busy last couple of days at my real job--but I wanted to report that Chicago-based Boeing released its bid for the next-generation Air Force mid-air refueling tanker, the KC-X on Friday. The USAF current tanker, the KC-135, dates back to the 1950s. The Boeing proposal is based on its 767 commercial aircraft.

"We are honored to support our U.S. Air Force customer and submit this proposal to meet the critical mission needs of this nation," said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. "Boeing has more than 60 years of experience developing, manufacturing and supporting tankers for America's warfighters, and we're ready to build the NewGen Tanker now. This revolutionary tanker will deliver widebody capabilities in a narrow-body footprint, operate in any theater or from any base, and -- with the lowest operating cost of any tanker in the competition -- save the Air Force and the American taxpayers billions of dollars."

Unlike the competing EADS/Airbus proposal, the Boeing jet will be a made-in-America effort, built primarily in Washington State and Kansas. Boeing says its prototype is more cost-effective than the Airbus bid.

"As the only company in this competition with rich experience in developing and manufacturing derivative aircraft for the warfighter, Boeing brings the talent and resources of our existing team and facilities to fully meet the requirements of the U.S. Air Force," said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "With our Boeing commercial and defense teams and a proven supplier network, we have delivered more than 1,000 commercial derivative aircraft to U.S. government customers and military customers around the world. Add to that our experience as the only company to deliver a combat-tested aerial refueling boom, and we are ready to provide the right tanker for the Air Force and the best value for taxpayers."

But the magic word in 2010 is jobs. Boeing says its NewGen Tanker will support about 50,000 American jobs and will utilize 800 suppliers in 40 states.

Related posts:

EADS submits its KC-X bid
Boeing wins WTO trade ruling over Airbus
Boeing tanker bid will mean more American jobs
Ideas to boost the economy: Buy American weapons and export American weapons
Lack of transparency in EADS tanker bid and a sleazy flashback
House overwhelmingly approves bill aimed at illegal EADS subsidies
Boeing raises national security issue regarding Air Force tanker proposal
Airbus tanker could weaken our military
British won't use Airbus tanker for Afghanistan, can't handle “high threat environments”
Airbus looks to rebid on Air Force tanker--as WTO scolds EU for illegal subsidies to it
Hot air from France on Air Force tanker deal

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