SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON AIR FORCE TANKERS

By Dr. Ronald D. Sugar,
Chairman and CEO,
Northrop Grumman
The U.S. Air Force urgently needs new aerial-refueling tankers. Its aging fleet of Eisenhower-era tankers is on average nearly 50 years old, and is being pushed hard to support ongoing military operations. Read more >

 

INTRO

Northrop Grumman is an American company headquartered in Los Angeles with over 120,000 employees.

On February 29, the U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman a contract to build the KC-45 military tanker refueling aircraft.

Northrop Grumman's KC-45 tanker is the right answer for the U.S. Air Force's modernization of its aerial refueling fleet.

Northrop Grumman's KC-45 provides a total air mobility solution — with exceptional capacity for in-flight refueling, plus full flexibility in cargo delivery, passenger transport, aeromedical evacuation, and other missions.

 

REASONS TO SUPPORT NORTHROP GRUMMAN'S KC-45 AWARD

  1. The KC-45 tanker competition was fair, open and transparent. The U.S. Air Force chose the KC-45 based on five performance criteria. Northrop Grumman was judged superior on four of five and tied on the other — and the best team won.
  1. Northrop Grumman's KC-45 is good for America's industrial base and will support 48,000 jobs in the United States impacting 230 companies in 49 states
  1. The current fleet of airborne refueling tankers is 45 years old; replacing those with the Northrop Grumman KC-45 is vitally important to the U.S. Air Force
  1. The KC-45 is ready now — it has been built, tested, flown, proven and selected.
 

The U.S. Air Force chose the best team for the tanker

The tanker decision was based on an open and transparent process and the best team won. The USAF ranked each bid on five criteria and Northrop Grumman won on four out of the five and tied in one category. Both sides praised the USAF for the fairness of the competition before the award was announced. Both sides agreed that this was the most rigorous acquisition process in the Department of Defense's history.

To view the U.S. Air Force's announcement on the tanker award, please see The Air Force Website.

Northrop Grumman's KC-45 economic impact will be in the United States

Northrop Grumman's KC-45 tanker will support 48,000 jobs in the United States and includes over 230 companies in 49 states that will economically prosper. There will be no jobs sent abroad.

To view the economic impact in the United States, please see our supplier page.

Questions Boeing has not answered

1. Northrop Grumman's proposal was judged superior by the U.S. Air Force in four out of the five criteria including: Mission Capability, Past Performance, Cost/Price, and Integrated Aerial Refueling Assessment. How can Boeing say its proposal should have been selected?

2. Boeing was publicly quoted being in favor of the U.S. Air Force procurement process until the award was announced. Why didn't Boeing raise its concerns prior to the announcement?

3. Can Boeing document the estimated 44,000 jobs that would be created within United States if they had been chosen? On Northrop Grumman's website, there is list of the suppliers and the 48,000 jobs supported. What evidence does Boeing have that U.S. jobs would disappear overseas?

4. Has Boeing identified exactly what military technologies related to the KC-45 will move offshore?

5. Boeing actually considered its 777 as a Tanker but thought it was not practical. Why?

TAKE ACTION

If you would like to have your voice heard by sending a letter to your elected officials, please click here.

 

GET THE DAILY FACTS

KC-45: Tanker Truths
Setting The Record Straight About Northrop Grumman's Tanker

KC-45: Takes Flight
News You Need To See On Northrop Grumman's Tanker

KC-45: Why We Won
Information About the Air Force's Selection of Northrop Grumman's Tanker

 

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