EADS North America has announced that it won’t protest the Air Force’s award of the KC-X tanker contract to Boeing. The Air Force ran an “extremely professional” and “scrupulous” competition, Ralph Crosby, EADS North America chairman, told reporters during a press conference March 4 in Washington, D.C., to discuss the company’s decision. USAF officials did “everything they said they would” during the source-selection process,” leaving “nothing to hang a protest on,” he said. “The Air Force looks forward to the long-awaited recapitalization of its air refueling fleet,” service spokesman Lt. Col. Todd Vician said in a statement released following the company’s announcement. Boeing’s tanker spokesman Bill Barksdale, in a statement issued after EADS’ event, said: “We understand the importance of this effort to our customer and the country and stand ready, along with our nationwide team of suppliers, to go to work on the new KC-46A program.” Continue to Cleared for Takeoff. (See also our initial coverage)
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.