Sue Payton, the Air Force’s acquisition chief, acknowledges the Air Force likely will not select a winning design for the next generation KC-X tanker until February. (It appears Senator Shelby’s office had the right skinny after all.) This is yet another extension in the oft-delayed process, but one that is necessary, Payton said Tuesday, to ensure the process is as thorough as necessary. “The most recent estimate was for a January decision, but “I think we are looking more at the February time frame,” to select between the competing Boeing and Northrop Grumman/EADS proposals, she told reporters at a Pentagon meeting. “There is a price to be paid for openness and transparency,” in the competition, she added. Time is the price.
China thinks it will be able to invade Taiwan by 2027 and has developed a technology edge in many key areas—but it is artificial intelligence that may be the decisive factor should conflict erupt, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said.