A bipartisan group of seven Senators is reviving efforts to force the Defense Department to consider the impact of improper foreign aircraft subsidies in the Air Force’s KC-X tanker competition. Led by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), these lawmakers—all of whom represent states in which KC-X bidder Boeing has a large presence—have introduced legislation dubbed the “Defense Level Playing Field.” This bill would require the Air Force to consider the World Trade Organization’s ruling last year against Airbus, according to a release from Moran. WTO found that Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS North America, the other KC-X contender, received improper aircraft subsidies from European governments. The legislation mimics a measure passed by the House last year. DOD has pushed to keep the contentious subsidies issue out of the KC-X source selection, arguing that trade issues are higher level government matters. Plus, there’s a European counterclaim against Boeing that WTO is still adjudicating.
If the Air Force is in line for a big budget bump from President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget in 2027, the head of Air Combat Command said he would make aircraft spare parts his top spending priority—but cautioned that more money to buy parts won’t equal a…
