Two rival bidders expressed optimism on Friday that they could win a multi-billion dollar US military contract to build a new tanker plane, a day after the Pentagon said the competition was reopened. A formal call for proposals from the Pentagon was received by US aerospace firm Boeing and rival Northrop Grumman, which has been working with Airbus parent firm EADS, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company.
"Our next step is to conduct a detailed review of the document" that calls for new bids, Boeing said, adding it had "a KC-7A7 'family of tankers' available to meet the warfighter's requirements. "Whether it's the agile, flexible 767-based tanker or the large 777-based tanker, Boeing will deliver a combat-ready tanker with maximum capability at the lowest cost," the US company said.
The Pentagon said Thursday it would use concrete criteria in judging proposals instead of the "confusion" that plagued a failed attempt last year to award a contract. Two previous attempts to award the 35-billion-dollar contract collapsed amid scandal and bitter disputes between the rival bidders. A final decision on the tanker is expected next year.
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