New commercial orders of Boeing 767 airliners have bought some time for the Air Force to organize a purchase of tanker derivatives from Boeing, should USAF choose to do so. Company officials said they had expected to start closing the 767 line last spring; that would have ended USAF’s chance to get the aircraft without an expensive line re-start. However, an unexpected upturn in the Asian airline market has extended the line’s production into next year. How long Boeing can wait on the prospect of a tanker deal is an open question. At some point, it must close the line for lack of business. Boeing can produce up to 60 767s a year at its Everett, Wash., plant. Its Wichita, Kan., facility can convert about 15 of the aircraft a year into tankers. Officials say Wichita’s operation could be expanded to do more, if needed.
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.