Pentagon officials plan to brief Congress today on the new KC-X tanker replacement draft request for proposals and release the draft RFP by Friday, reports Bloomberg News (via Seattle Times). And a Reuters news service report quoting Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) confirms that same timing. The troubled acquisition program is back in the Air Force’s hands, per the announcement last week by Defense Secretary Robert Gates at AFA’s Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington, D.C. Even before getting out of the starting gate, KC-X has problems, since Tiahrt and other Boeing proponents want the Administration to consider the recent World Trade Organization preliminary ruling, while Northrop Grumman-EADS proponents are equally adamant it should have no bearing on the renewed tanker contest. Stay tuned.
Earlier this week, the People’s Republic of China confirmed it is halting its nuclear arms control talks with the U.S., in retaliation for the U.S. continuing to sell arms to Taiwan. The move reinforces a “pattern of behavior” from Beijing, experts say.