Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne reports that he’s hopeful that World Trade Organization issues swirling around the aerial tanker competition will all be resolved by the time a contract is awarded next summer. Subsidy issues with European aircraft—affecting the Northrop Grumman-EADS tanker offer—surfaced in the draft request for proposals. Wynne acknowledged the issue could “derail” a timely tanker award.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.