LOS ANGELES, March 12 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman said Monday it won the U.S. Air Force's new air tanker contract in a fair fight.
Boeing, whose KC-767 air tanker lost out in the contest for the $35 billion contract to Northrop Grumman and the European Aerospace and Defence and Space Company's KC-45A air tanker, has protested the deal and requested the Government Accountability Office to undertake an investigation of it.
"The KC-45A competition underwent the most rigorous, fair and transparent acquisition process in Defense Department history," Northrop Grumman said. "Throughout the process, both competitors in the KC-45A acquisition hailed the Air Force for conducting a fair and open competition."
"The size of the proposed tanker aircraft was not dictated by the Air Force nor was size an established criteria -- each contractor was free to propose the best solution and platform to meet Air Force war fighter requirements," Northrop Grumman said.
"Both contractors had ample opportunity in the protracted acquisition and source selection process to propose the best aerial refueling capability to meet the war fighter's requirements," the company said.
"The U.S. Department of Defense ruled that the disputes involving Boeing and Airbus currently being adjudicated by the World Trade Organization were not relevant to the U.S. Air Force's KC-X Tanker competition," Northrop Grumman said.
