Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn said Monday Pentagon officials “are disappointed” by Northrop Grumman’s decision to withdraw from the Air Force’s KC-X tanker contest (see Opting Out above). Further, he said the Defense Department still thinks the KC-X competition is “structured fairly” and that “both companies could compete effectively.” Meanwhile, Boeing, which is now ostensibly the sole bidder, “remains 100 percent focused … and intends to submit a fully responsive, transparent, and competitive proposal,” said company spokesman Bill Barksdale. (Lynn statement) (Boeing statement) (See also EADS North America release)
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…
