The Air Force late Friday issued a statement noting the service had released an updated request for proposals for the tanker replacement program, called KC-X. Air Force acquisition chief Sue Payton confirmed that USAF has delayed release of the final RFP until January, but she said the goal is still to complete source selection by Sept. 30, 2007. The release also reaffirmed that the KC-X is now the service’s top procurement priority.
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.