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 Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.