If Reuters news service is right, the Air Force could extend its timeline for issuing a final request for proposals for its new aerial refueling aircraft competition. Reuters reports that service officials may hold off until mid-February “to iron out remaining details.” Those details probably include Northrop Grumman’s desire to see some emphasis on the cargo-hauling role for the new KC-X. There is no indication whether this RFP delay might prompt USAF to push its September 2007 award date forward.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall doesn’t see great value in trying to break the Sentinel ICBM program off as a separate budget item the way the Navy has with its ballistic-missile submarine program, saying such a move wouldn’t create any new money for the Air Force to spend on other…