Tanker Truths

29 Apr 2008
More Boeing Advertisements With Erroneous Claims
Boeing has a full-page ad in today's Washington Post that again misrepresents the facts surrounding Northrop Grumman's win of an Air Force contract to construct America's next generation of aerial refueling tankers. Today, we even have video to refute Boeing's erroneous claims.

In its ad, Boeing alleges that Northrop Grumman's winning tanker comes with "significantly higher risk."

In fact, a document in which the Air Force explained its decision to both companies makes clear it rates Boeing's proposal as more risky than Northrop Grumman's.

Northrop Grumman's tanker aircraft and refueling boom have been built, flown and tested. Boeing, meanwhile, hasn't even yet built the aircraft or boom they proposed to the Air Force, and has been late on delivering other tankers to Japan and Italy.

The Air Force document says, "Boeing rated little confidence in program management, while NG was rated satisfactory."

In the Request For Proposal document both companies followed during the bidding process, the Air Force explained that a rating of "Little Confidence" would mean, "Based on offeror's performance record, substantial doubt exists the offeror will successfully perform the required effort."

And the Air Force concluded "that this difference in the program management provides better overall confidence...(making) Northrop Grumman more advantageous." The same document notes that "the higher confidence rating for Northrop Grumman...was a discriminator" in the Air Force's overall decision.

Boeing also alleges that Northrop Grumman "continue(s) to struggle with the development of the boom they've proposed for the...tanker. Reports indicate their boom is not expected to be operational until late 2010," after Northrop Grumman has promised to begin tanker delivery.

In fact, Northrop Grumman's boom has been built, and successfully tested. Ironically, the first test where fuel was passed from this boom took place on February 29, the same day the Air Force concluded Northrop Grumman's bid was superior to Boeing's on 4 of 5 major selection criteria.

That February 29 test involved the boom Northrop Grumman included in its proposal, which connected to an F-16 aircraft. Approximately 2,000 pounds of fuel was transferred during multiple contacts. Since the initial fuel transfer, additional tests have taken place, using that same boom on an A310 test bed aircraft.

See video of a successful transfer test conducted earlier this Spring

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