Boeing Wins $35B Tanker Contract

[mcbush]

Take a look at the KC-46A development link in the quoted text that M2 posted (this link). Here's a quote: "Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz has said the KC-46A program should serve as a guidepost for all future Air Force acquisition programs..."

Please tell me he's not serious.

[sky_king]

A guidepost doesn't necessarily mean the program went well.

[Napoleon_Tanerite]

https://www.aviationw...KC-46%20Overage

Imagine that, Boeing lied about their price to get a contract...

Just noticed, but LtCol (then Capt) Jack Miller was my first instructor in ROTC.

[JarheadBoom]

The Italians are still training to refuel using the 767's boom. So far, they have been employing only the aircraft's drogue refueling system and are only cleared to refuel Italian aircraft. "For us, it's an opportunity to work with the best in the world, so we can learn from them," explained Del Giudice. During the visit, which began on Dec. 9, Del Giudice and an Italian boom operator flew on two KC-135 missions to observe refueling operations up close.

I guess their booms have already forgotten what they learned in BBIQ at McGuire over the past 6+ years...

[Dupe]

Take a look at the KC-46A development link in the quoted text that M2 posted (this link). Here's a quote: "Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz has said the KC-46A program should serve as a guidepost for all future Air Force acquisition programs..."

Please tell me he's not serious.

Look at what the Air Force ended up with: we're getting a new tanker on a fixed-price contract with industry fronting most of the development costs! I can't think of any other MDS acquired in such a way....KC-46A is a hell of a deal for the Air Force. The KC-X program sure has a decade's worth of lessons learned as it morphed from a lease deal that put a major acquisition official in the lock-up to a sorce selection where the winner was selected based on requirements that were very different than what the request for proposal asked for. We delt with the ensuing protest and finally got it right on the third attempt. The Chief is right: this program should serve as a "What to do and what not to do" guide for future major acquisitions. At this stage, I think the KC-46A is a win for the Air Force and a win for Boeing.

[BADFNZ]

I can't wait to see the cost-cutting measures Boeing takes to stay in the black.

[Clayton Bigsby]

Thank the Italians for funding the major development issues; hopefully it's a fairly straighforward build.

[Prozac]

Thank the Italians for funding the major development issues; hopefully it's a fairly straighforward build.

Completely different jet.

[Guest]

The Chief is right: this program should serve as a "What to do and what not to do" guide for future major acquisitions.

Uh, that should be standard for everything everyone in the USAF does.

Plan. Execute. Debrief.

Standard.

[Dupe]

Uh, that should be standard for everything everyone in the USAF does.

Plan. Execute. Debrief.

Standard.

It should be that way, but you and I both know it's not. Hell, passing on lessons learned from similar programs with the same prime is hard.