Northrop declines to rule out platform switch for new KC-X bid

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As Boeing reportedly considers alternate platforms or withdrawalfrom the US Air Force's KC-X tanker competition, the NorthropGrumman/EADS North America team may also consider upgrading itstanker offer.
The US Department of Defense plans to release a final request for proposals during the lastweek of August, in defiance of Boeing's public requests for anextension period.
Boeing's chosen 767-200ERX platform is likely to be too small tocompete against the KC-30B version of the A330-200 if fuel offloadcapacity remains a key evaluation criteria.
Northrop, meanwhile, now refuses to rule out the option ofswitching to a different platform when it submits its proposal inearly October. "We'll consider all of the options that areavailable to us and we'll propose the platform that best meets thecustomer's requirements," it says.
The A330-200 was selected for the competition in 2006 becauseAirbus had not yet launched the A330-200 Freighter. Northropinstead proposed to deliver the A330 passenger model, convert itinto a freighter and then further modify the aircraft as a tanker.Switching to the pure freighter model, which was launched lastyear, is likely to be more efficient.
Previously, Northrop tanker vice-president Paul Meyer told FlightInternational that his team would "inevitably" switch to thefreighter if it won the original KC-X competition.
Northrop also plans to build new commercial freighters in Mobile,Alabama, if the KC-30B finally secures the tanker contract.
Israel is meanwhile to convert additional Boeing 707s into tankersto close the gap until the USAF fields a replacement for its oldestKC-135s. "The delayed [KC-X] selection process will result in theconversion of more 707s to the tanker role," confirms an Israelisource. The Israeli air force plans to use US foreign militaryfinancing to acquire the same tanker that will enter USAF service.
Steve Trimble provides the latest insight to the KC-X tankercompetition on The DEW Line ...