With respect to the U.S. Air Force's program to replace its aging aerial refueling tankers, it may be time to expect the unexpected: that this big acquisition program may proceed hereafter without a major hitch. Sheer necessity may make it so, according to a defense analyst who has spoken with senior Air Force officials about the program. That driving necessity: "They do not have the money to keep this competition going" indefinitely, said Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute, an Arlington, Va.-based think tank. The Air Force had been very close to wrapping up a tanker replacement deal with The Boeing Co. in 2004, when a combination of congressional skepticism and corporate scandal knocked the deal flat. Since that time, the Air Force has been working to get its acquisitions house in order, conducting a series of studies intended to ensure that its acquisitions process is completely above reproach.
Refueling Tanker Program: This Time the Air Force Means Business
