A Refueling Tanker's 'Flying Boom' Can Do A Lot Of Damage

An A-10 Thunderbolt II refuels from a KC-10 over the US Central Command area of responsibility, January 17, 2020. US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Daniel Snider

Business Insider/The Aviationist: Check out the damage done to an A-10 Warthog's nose by a refueling tanker's 'flying boom'

* An A-10 Warthog over the Central Command area of responsibility showed off the wear and tear that comes with aerial refueling.
* Needless to say, such dents don't affect the aircraft's ability to safely fly and fight.

The photograph in this post shows an US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II of the 23rd Fighter Group, deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, as it refuels from a US Air Force KC-10 Extender assigned to the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, above the US Central Command area of responsibility.

The photo, taken on January 17, 2020, is particularly interesting because it shows the extent of the damage caused to the nose section of the aircraft, around the receptacle where the "boomer" inserts the "flying boom" of the tanker (either a KC-10 or a KC-135).

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WNU Editor: Ouch!

The US Air Force Wants A Bunch Of New Tankers

Boeing's KC-46 aerial refueling tanker conducts receiver compatibility tests with a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, in Seattle Christopher Okula/ U.S. Air Force/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

Business Insider: The US Air Force wants a bunch of new tankers to take the fight to China

* Concerned about the "pacing threat" that is the Chinese military, the US Air Force is looking to bolster its capabilities.
* The service wants more tanker aircraft to ensure that the US has the ability to bring its top assets, such as fighters and bombers, into the fight.
* While the US military is striving to guarantee readiness for a potential conflict, plans to strengthen the Air Force are intended as a deterrence message to rival challengers.

The US Air Force needs more tanker aircraft to ensure that America's heavy hitters can take the fight to China should a conflict arise, according to the service's senior leadership.

"The challenge in the Pacific is the tyranny of distance, and that means tanker squadrons are very important," Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson told Congress last week, Voice of America reported, noting that the Air Force plans to increase the number of tanker squadrons from 40 to 54 by 2030.

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WNU Editor: The U.S. Air Force's tanker fleet is one of the  reasons why the U.S. military is a formidable foe. Hence the need to develop new tankers .... The U.S. Air Force Wants To Develop A Next-Generation Tanker Aircraft (October 31, 2016).

The U.S. Air Force Wants To Develop A Next-Generation Tanker Aircraft

Lockheed Martin

Popular Mechanics: Here's the Wing-Body Tanker That Could Refuel the F-35

To refuel the F-22 and F-35 deep in enemy territory, the Air Force is going to need something a little less obvious on a radar screen.

The U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command recently announced the "KC-Z" program intended to develop a next-generation tanker aircraft—one that could fly into dangerous airspace to support strike fighters like the F-22 and F-35—by 2035. Lockheed Martin was the first to answer the call for ideas, and that company recently released design information about a hybrid wing-body aircraft with short take-off and landing capabilities, according to Aviation Week.

Although the new tanker wouldn't have a high level of stealth, the low profile of a blended wing-body airframe would naturally produce a smaller radar cross-section than current tankers. (The KC-10 Extender and KC-135 Stratotanker, and even the KC-36 Pegasus that is currently under development, all have large-body designs similar to commercial airliners.) Lockheed is also considering embedding the engines within the airframe to keep the KC-Z as stealthy as possible to avoid radar detection, surface-to-air missiles, and other anti-aircraft weapons.

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WNU Editor: This tanker program is decades away from being manufactured .... but the positioning is starting now.

The Story And Timeline Of The Air Force's New Tanker

Timeline: The Tangled 10-Year Odyssey Of The Air Force's New Tanker -- Popular Mechanics

What was once a simple deal for the Air Force to lease 100 planes from Boeing became a decade-long tale of lobbying, intrigue and corruption charges. Here's how.

It was a multibillion-dollar competition marred by corruption, greed and political intrigue. Who would have thought that aerial refueling tankers—essentially flying gas stations—could create so much drama?

Certainly not the Air Force, which in September 2001 saw an opportunity to push through a fast-track lease-to-own deal for 100 tankers based on Boeing's 767 aircraft. The Air force figured that an aircraft lease, like leasing a car, would allow it to buy something that it couldn't immediately afford: a fleet of new aircraft to replace its Eisenhower-era KC-135 tankers.

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My Comment: A classic American story of greed, politics, and government functioning at its worst.

Boeing Wins The U.S. Air Force Contract For 179 Airborne Refuelling Tankers

U.S. Air Force Awards $35Billion Defence Contract For 179 Airborne Refuelling Tankers To Boeing -- The Daily Mail

* Award is one of the biggest defence contracts in U.S. history
* Decision is a blow to European EADS - which had planned to build tankers in Alabama
* 50,000 jobs could be created across the U.S.

The U.S. Air Force has awarded one of its biggest defence contracts ever to build nearly 200 giant airborne refuelling tankers.

After a decade of delays and embarrassing missteps, the $35billion deal announced last night has been awarded to Boeing Co.

The decision was a major blow to Europe's aviation giant EADS - the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co.

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More News On Boeing Getting the Contract For 179 Airborne Refuelling Tankers

Boeing Bid Beats Europe for Tanker -- Wall Street Journal
Tanker Win a Bright Spot for Boeing -- Wall Street Journal
Boeing Wins $35 Billion Air Force Tanker Program on Third Try -- Bloomberg
Boeing basks in glow of tanker win, but risks loom -- Reuters
Boeing Gets Lift From $35B Air Force Contract -- Forbes
Boeing Lands $30B+ Pentagon Contract -- Barron's
Boeing seals $30bn US defence deal -- Al Jazeera
Boeing wins major aerial tanker contract -- Washington Post
Pentagon awards tanker contract to Boeing -- USA Today
US "air capital" savors Boeing tanker victory -- AFP

EU Dismayed at Boeing Decision -- Wall Street Journal
EADS may protest Boeing tanker contract -- Market Watch
Reaction Muted in Europe to Losing U.S. Tanker Contract -- New York Times
Disappointed EADS is still upbeat in the US -- Deutsche Welle
German Dpty Econ Min Questions Fairness of Boeing Tanker Bid -- Wall Street Journal
EU Commission disappointed at U.S. tanker decision -- Reuters
EADS CEO "Disappointed And Perplexed" By US Tanker Decision -- Wall Street Journal

Tanker contract a big win for labor -- Politico
Commentary: Air Force gets tanker call right -- Kansas City
Timeline: The tanker saga -- Seattle Times
Timeline: Long road to Boeing's US Air Force tanker win -- Reuters

U.S. Tanker Decision To Be Made Thursday

The Air Force is expected to announce a winner in the $40 billion air tanker contest Thursday. An F/A-18 fighter refuels from an A330 tanker in December. The A330 is similar to the tanker EADS has proposed assembling in Mobile. (Courtesy EADS)

Scandalous Air Tanker Decision: Despite Corruption, EADS Favored Over U.S.-Based Boeing -- Center For Security Policy

Within days, the Obama Pentagon is expected to decide which supplier to rely upon for what is, arguably, the cornerstone of America’s ability to project power for the next forty years: the next generation aerial refueling tanker known as the KC-X. The choice for this role – which is worth conservatively $40 billion – would seem to be a no-brainer. The obvious winning candidate to produce and maintain for decades to come 179 tankers would be a reliable, experienced and responsible U.S. manufacturer, Boeing.

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More News On The U.S. Tanker Decision

U.S. Air Force Tanker Award will be Announced Thursday --Defpro News
Psst, Congress! KC-X Award Thursday? -- DoD Buzz
US may announce aerial tanker winner Thursday -- Economic Times
Airbus Verus Boeing: Twitter & Ads on the Tanker and Subsidies -- Reuters
Scandalous air tanker decision: Despite corruption, EADS favored over U.S.-based Boeing -- Frank Gaffney, Washington Times

Final Bids For U.S. Air Force $35B Tanker Bid Due Feb. 11

Photo: Boeing plans to submit a new bid to the U.S. military .for a $35 billion contract for refueling tankers. An Italian jet is shown above. (BOEING)

Airbus, Boeing Make Case For $35B Tanker Deal -- Dayton Business Journal

Boeing Co. and Airbus are still jockeying for the $35 billion KC-X tanker contract from the U.S. Air Force, with both recently sending this message to the military: “We can build your tanker.”

On Feb. 3, Airbus (EADS North America) announced it is raising the production rate of its A330 wide body jetliner from the current eight monthly to nine in 2012, then 10 monthly in 2013.

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More News On The Tanker Deal

Pentagon Seeks Final Bids on Aerial Refueling Tanker by Feb 11. -- Bloomberg
Boeing-Airbus tanker war heats up as deadline nears -- Reuters
Boeing, EADS Ready Final Tanker Bids -- Wall Street Journal
Boeing's new 767 line ready to make Air Force tankers -- Seattle PI
Boeing to revise bid for US military tanker deal -- AFP
Boeing to revise tanker bid pitch -- UPI
Analyst: Subsidies aid EADS' tanker bid -- Kansas.com
Airbus ramps up A330 production with an eye on Air Force tanker prize -- Al.com
EADS Won’t Say If KC-X Bid Changes -- DoD Buzz

More U.S. Senate Hearings On The Air Force Tanker Project

U.S. Senate Hearing On Air Force Tankers Set For January 27 -- Bloomberg

The Senate Armed Services Committee will convene a hearing Jan. 27 to examine the inadvertent release of data from the bids of Boeing Co. and European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. on the U.S. Air Force’s new aerial tanker.

Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, the committee chairman, promised the hearing based on concerns from Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, a Democrat like Levin, that the release may have tainted the competition.

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More News On The U.S. Air Force's Tanker Program

US military's tanker deal: a saga without end -- Yahoo News/AP
Sen. Cantwell wants 'minute-by-minute' account of tanker mix-up -- The Hill
Cantwell: Air Force must answer questions about tanker flub -- Seattle PI
Tanker contract could slide to March -- Wichita Business Journal
Tanker Wars: Contract Award to Airbus Coincides with Damning WTO Findings -- Defpro News

KC-X Tanker Decision Is Expected Next Month

A KC-135 Stratotanker from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, refuels a pair of F-16 Fighting Falcons during a multinational exercise over the Baltic States, April 7, 2009. The Stratotankers from RAF Mildenhall feature the "Box D" tail marking, dating back to World War II. (UPI Photo/Jerry Fleshman/US Air Force)

EADS: KC-X Tanker To Be Awarded Next Month -- UPI

PARIS, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- European defense giant EADS expects the Pentagon to award the $35 billion KC-X tanker contract as early as next month.

"The contract award … was to have been around the middle of November last year. It has moved toward next month," EADS North America Chief Executive Officer Sean O'Keefe said Wednesday in Paris, citing information from the U.S. Defense Department.

European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. is in a fierce competition with U.S. arch-rival Boeing for the contract to outfit the U.S. Air Force with 179 in-flight refueling tankers.

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More News On The KC-X Tanker Project

EADS Cites Progress on A400M, UAVs, Tanker Hopes -- Defense News
EADS expects KC-X tanker decision next month -- Air force Times
Boeing to Air Force: Don't mess up -- Politico
US Air Force 'moving toward completion' on tanker -- Reuters
Boeing's Albaugh: 'I'm not holding my breath' on tanker award -- Seattle PI
Boeing delivered last KC-135 tanker to USAF 45 years ago -- Seattle PI
Air Force tanker decision next month? -- Business Journal
EADS Anticipates U.S. Tanker Decision in February -- Defense News

U.S. Senate To Investigate The Air Force Tanker Bid

An Air Force F16 Fighting Falcon is refueled during a joint U.S.-South Korea military drill. Reuters

Senate to Probe Air Force Tanker Bidding, Again -- Wall Street Journal

For nearly a decade, the U.S. Air Force has been trying–without much luck–to buy a replacement for its fleet of Eisenhower-era aerial refueling tankers.

Now it looks as if the contest, which pits Boeing Co. against EADS North America, the U.S.-incorporated unit of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co., will be off to a politically charged start in the New Year.

Sen. Carl Levin (D., Mich.) said this week the Senate Armed Services Committee would hold hearings next month to “review the propriety of the procurement process.”

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More News On The U.S. Air Tanker Bid

Senate panel to look into tanker data mixup -- Reuters
Boeing-EADS Tanker Data Gaffe Prompts Senate Inquiry -- Bloomberg
U.S. Senate to Hold Hearings on USAF Tanker Buy -- Defense News
Bill complicates Air Force contract -- Politico
Senate to investigate sharing of tanker data -- Seattle PI
Carl Levin to look into Air Force mix-up -- Politico
Tanker contract battle plays out on House floor -- Air Force Times

U.S. Air Force Tanker Bid Process Criticized When One Contractor Submits 5 Minutes Late

The NewGen Tanker is based on the 767 commercial jetliner - but it will be updated with the latest and most advanced technology. (Boeing)

5 Minute Delay Scuttles Chance at $40 Billion Air Force Deal -- The Danger Room

Somehow, against all odds, the already-surreal competition to build America’s next fleet of tanker planes just got sillier and more venal. A tiny, troubled aerospace firm and its Ukrainian partner have been disqualified from the bidding because they handed in their proposal five minutes too late. The companies, for their part, insist that their messenger had a few minutes to spare.

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The KC-45A is a modification of the Airbus A330 platform. (EADS)

More News On The U.S. Air Force Tanker Bid

Air Force tanker bid thrown out for arriving 5 minutes late -- CNN
DoD: U.S. Aerospace Protest Won't Force KC-X Delay -- Defense News
US Aerospace protests US tanker contest exclusion -- Reuters
US Aerospace blames timing for US re-fuelling bid -- AFP
KC-X: Darn Those Deadlines -- DoD Buzz
Dark-horse entrant in race to build Air Force refueling tankers files protest -- Washington Post
Latest KC-X Protest Not Likely Precedent -- Aviation Week
The USAF’s KC-X Aerial Tanker RFP -- Defense Industry Daily
U.S. Aerospace protests tanker bid rejection -- Seattle PI
Is U.S. Aerospace laying the groundwork for a protest? -- Seattle PI
No further delay for U.S. Air Force tanker -- UPI
USAF Chief: KC-X Award Date Is Firm -- Defense News
Did US Aerospace Hire George Costanza to Manage the USAF Tanker Contract? -- Information Dissemination

Air Force Reopens Tanker Bidding With New Rules

A US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker tanker. Photo AFP

Pentagon Launches Contest For Serial Tanker Contract -- L.A. Times

Boeing is expected to compete against a team of Northrop and Airbus' parent company. The pact to replace the nation's aging fleet of mid-flight refueling planes could be worth $35 billion.

The Pentagon on Wednesday officially launched a competition to replace its aging, aerial refueling tankers. It released the requirements needed to fulfill a contract potentially worth $35 billion.

Two aerospace giants were expected to vie for the contract to build 179 tankers -- Chicago-based Boeing Co. and a team composed of Century City-based Northrop Grumman Corp. and Airbus parent European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co. The companies have 75 days to submit bids.

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More News On The US Air Force Tanker Contract

Pentagon sets new tanker rules with slight changes -- Reuters
New RFP for Air Force Tanker Released by Pentagon, Northrop Grumman/EADS Still Unhappy -- Daily Tech
The USAF’s KC-X Aerial Tanker RFP -- Defense Industry Daily
Pentagon releases revised tanker bid rules -- Financial Times
Final plan for Air Force tanker bids plays to Boeing's advantages -- Seattle Times
Tanker request has more than 230 changes, keeps basic form -- Seattle PI
Big Tanker Day -- Defense Tech
Pentagon Hopes Both Boeing, Northrop Will Submit Tanker Bids -- Wall Street Journal
U.S. Military’s Tanker Plan May Disappoint Northrop -- Business Week/Bloomberg
Pentagon tries to get tanker off the ground -- Washington Post
Can the Air Force Finally Buy a New Gas-Passer? -- The Danger Room
CHRONOLOGY-U.S. Air Force tanker saga continues -- Reuters

Northrop Might Not Bid On Pentagon's Tanker Contract

From The Wall Street Journal:

Northrop Grumman Corp. has told the Defense Department that it may not bid on a $40 billion Air Force refueling tanker contract, raising the prospect of Boeing Co. becoming the sole bidder on the Pentagon's most politically charged weapons program.

Northrop President and Chief Operating Officer Wes Bush wrote in a Dec. 1 letter to the Pentagon's top weapons buyer that unless major changes were made to how the Air Force was going to select a winner, "Northrop Grumman cannot proceed to submit a bid" to the Defense Department.

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More News On Northrop Quitting The Bidding Process For A New Air Force Tanker

Northrop threatens to boycott US tanker contest -- Reuters
Northrop pulls out of tanker contest; Pentagon shrugs -- Forbes/Reuters
Northrop may to drop out of tanker competition -- AP
Northrop may withdraw tanker bid -- Politico
Northrop Rejects Tanker Bid Under Draft RFP -- Aviation Week

Air Force Resumes Tanker Contest

An Italian Air Force 767 aerial tanker conducts a midair refueling of a jet fighter. Boeing

From the Wall Street Journal:

Competing Boeing and Northrop-Airbus Bids Are Expected in Third Round.

The Air Force on Thursday launched a fresh attempt to buy $40 billion of aerial refueling tankers after two previous efforts collapsed amid controversy.

The politically charged contract to replace the Air Force's aging fleet of tankers -- with an average age of close to 50 years -- will likely garner competing bids from Boeing Co. and a joint Northrop Grumman Corp. and Airbus team. Both were bidders in the previous round, where Boeing successfully protested the award of the contract to the Northrop team in February 2008.

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More News On The USAF Tanker Contest

Air Force won't factor WTO ruling in tanker competition -- Miami Herald Tribune
Boeing, Airbus To Try Again on Tanker -- Business Week
Air Force to Be ‘Crystal Clear’ on Tanker Contract -- Bloomberg
$35B Air Force tanker competition set to reopen -- AP
Pentagon prepares to reopen Air Force refueling tanker bidding process -- Seattle Times
Air tanker contract competition rules ignore WTO ruling, lawmakers say -- McClatchy News
Pentagon in third attempt to award $35bn tanker contract -- Financial Times
FACTBOX-Highlights of Pentagon's aerial tanker criteria -- Reuters

Trade Ruling Adds Fuel To Aerial-Tanker Contract Fight

Photo Credit: Boeing photo - Chad Slattery

From McClatchy News:

WASHINGTON — A long-awaited ruling in an international trade dispute could become the latest flash point in the competition for a $35 billion contract to start replacing the aging fleet of Air Force aerial refueling tankers.

The Pentagon is expected to release a draft request for bids on the tanker contract this week.

Boeing supporters in Congress have made it clear that they won't tolerate a competition that doesn't take into account a preliminary ruling earlier this month from the World Trade Organization that Airbus has received billions of dollars in illegal subsidies from four European governments.

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My Comment: So .... the nations defense is now dependent on what the WTO decides is in everyone's best interests .... which (of course) will not be in the best interest of the U.S.

Pentagon Opposes Dual Tanker Deal

SEATTLE, Jan. 15, 2009 -- Boeing has completed the first aerial refuelings of a 737 platform. The historic flights were conducted for Australia's Project Wedgetail, an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) program. Shown here is the 737-700 Wedgetail aircraft receiving fuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 tanker during a flight over Edwards Air Force Base in California. The aircraft also was refueled by an Air Force KC-10 tanker. (Photo from Boeing)

From AFP:

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US Defense Department said Friday it opposed a key lawmaker's proposal this week to split in two a 35-billion-dollar plan to replace the Pentagon's aging fleet of in-air refueling tankers.

"Defense Secretary Robert Gates' position on a split buy is clear to all involved. He thinks it is impractical and inefficient and he is adamantly opposed to it," said Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell.

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My Comment: Def. Sec. of Defense Gates and the Pentagon may be opposed to the dual tanker deal, but the politicians who have control on the budget differ.

If there is one thing that I have learned about Washington, it is always the politicians who control the budget that have the real power .... not the Secretary of Defense.

A dual tanker arrangement is what is going to happen.