The better tanker didn't win

» Discuss Article    (27 Comments)

Horner's assertion that the GAO decision supported only a few minor issues out of more than 100 is a myth. The Boeing protest was focused on 15 key issues; the GAO supported or recommended that the Air Force reevaluate 10. Industry analysts and others familiar with defense acquisitions called the GAO's critique a rare and serious condemnation of a process in which significant flaws appear to have had an influence on the decision.

Horner wrongly suggests that Boeing is telling the Air Force what it needs for its new tanker. On the contrary, Boeing chose to custom-fit the KC-767 for the requirements and missions defined by the Air Force. Meanwhile, Northrop boldly threatened to walk away from the competition unless the Air Force changed the requirements, including the originally realistic mission scenarios, to fit its team's oversized KC-30. But that is in the past. Looking ahead, the Northrop-EADS team has defiantly said that it will offer the exact same Airbus A330-based plane in the upcoming competition -- even before the Pentagon issues a new Request for Proposals outlining its requirements. Boeing has always held the position that the Air Force's requirements would determine our offering, not the other way around.

Even as Americans agonize over the soaring cost of gas, Horner minimizes the importance of fuel savings over the life of these aircraft. The KC-767 would save billions over the Airbus plane. Whether the savings add up to $30 billion or $40 billion depends on the price of oil. The more efficient KC-767 would save 1,000 to 2,000 gallons of fuel on almost every mission -- tens of thousands of missions each year, year after year. All of these savings are possible while still carrying out the needed mission.

Finally, the KC-30 has yet to transfer fuel -- the primary mission of an aerial refueling tanker. It has not been proven, tested or delivered to any customer as a certified tanker. In fact, the first KC-30 is still not even fully built. Boeing is the only company that has delivered more than 2,000 tankers and has been involved in the mission for the past 75 years. So which company has the lower risk, dedicated workforce, proven facilities and tools to make the next Air Force tanker? With all due respect to Horner, the answer is, without a doubt, Boeing.

Dan Beck is director of external communications for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.

Blowback is an online forum for full-length responses to our articles, editorials and Op-Eds. Click here to read more about Blowback, or submit your own by e-mailing us at opinionla@latimes.com.