The Pentagon’s willingness to grant a 60-day extension to the KC-X proposal deadline may not be enough for EADS to commit to bidding. “We have firmly indicated that a 90-day extension would be the minimum time necessary to prepare a responsible proposal for this $40 billion program,” Guy Hicks, EADS North America spokesman told the Daily Report after Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell announced Wednesday the Defense Department’s willingness to grant more time for KC-X tanker bids to be turned in if EADS commits to competing (see Another 60 Days above). Hicks added that EADS “will consider” DOD’s decision to offer the 60-day extension, which would mean bids for the new tanker would be due July 9 vice May 10.
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
