Reuters news service late Monday reported that EADS has decided it will go it alone to bid for the KC-X tanker contract, quoting “sources familiar with the matter.” The Pentagon’s No. 2 civilian official, William Lynn, said late last week that time was running out for EADS to respond to DOD’s offer to extend the bidding period. Northrop Grumman in March backed out of the KC-X contest for which it had teamed with EADS. Reportedly EADS had been trying to interest L-3 in a KC-X partnership, but that didn’t pan out.
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.

