Boeing officials are waiting to see the details of the long-awaited analysis of alternatives (AOA) for recapitalizing the U.S. Air Force refueling tanker fleet, hoping it will pave the way for the service to "outline a program path forward."

John Sams, vice president of Boeing Air Force Systems, said Jan. 30 he hopes the Air Force would be able to issue a request for proposals (RFP) by the end of the year.

Pentagon officials held two days of closed-door briefings on Capitol Hill last week on the AOA, and one congressman who participated, Rep. Norman Dicks (D-Wash.), says the RAND Corp. study recommends picking an existing commercial airframe from a wide range of aircraft that could include aircraft made by Boeing and Airbus (DAILY, Jan. 30, 2006).

"Those are two separate entities," said Sams, noting the KC-10 and the smaller and older KC-135. "The question the Air Force will answer most likely is: do they feel they have sufficiency with the KC-10 now, and they want a recap of the 135 fleet or if they prefer to add to the KC-10 fleet."

Boeing is hoping the Air Force will select its 767 tanker, which it has been developing since 2002. Boeing has indicated in the past it would consider keeping its 767 production line warm during the gap between when back orders are completed and the Air Force makes a decision. Sams said he didn't know when 767 production might have to shut down. "We'll make that decision whenever we need to make that decision," Sams said, adding: "it might be this year, it might be next year." Boeing will be delivering 767 tankers to Italy and Japan this year, Sams said.

Sams said Boeing was prepared to deliver an aircraft that meets Air Force requirements whether or not it's the 767. "We've made a lot of investment in the 767," Sams said, adding that about half of the completed research and development probably wouldn't be transferable to another Boeing aircraft like the 777.

Meanwhile, Airbus North America broke ground Jan. 30 at the Mobile, Ala., facility where it plans to assemble the Northrop Grumman KC-30 refueling tanker.