F-15 Fleet Grounded After Crash

Beats out Europe company to build new refueling tankers

(NEWSER) - It took a decade and two false starts, but Boeing has finally landed the massive Air Force contract to build the military's next generation of refueling planes, reports the Seattle News . The decision surprised plenty of defense analysts who figured that the $35 billion contract would go to Europe's EADS, which planned to build the tankers in Alabama, much to the delight of Gulf Coast politicians. More»

Boasts record-setting deal will create jobs

(NEWSER) - The Obama administration plans to offer Saudi Arabia $60 billion worth of advanced aircraft, in what would be the largest arms deal in US history. The deal may also be expanded by tens of billions more to include naval and missile-defense upgrades, the Wall Street Journal reports. The administration intends to formally notify Congress of the plan this week or next, and will tout the deal’s potential to create at least 75,000 jobs. More»

No personal gain from earmarks, says senator

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama can be glad Sen. Judd Gregg, briefly nominated for commerce secretary, backed out. Today, the AP reports that Gregg invested heavily in efforts by his brother Cyrus to redevelop New Hampshire’s Pease Air Force Base, while earmarking federal dollars for the redevelopment. “These earmarks do not benefit me in any way, shape, manner—financially, personally or in any other manner,” says Gregg. More»

Bidding changes seen to justify previous decision

(NEWSER) - The Pentagon issued new criteria yesterday for the second round of bidding on its lucrative fuel-tanker contract, Bloomberg reports, and Boeing backers immediately cried foul. The new terms give bonus points to a plane that carries more fuel than the earlier guidelines, which Boeing officials and congressional allies claim favors its European-backed rival, Northrop Grumman. More»

(NEWSER) - The Pentagon will re-open a $35 billion contract to build the Air Force's fleet of new refueling tankers and pick a new winner by the end of the year, congressional sources say. The Office of the Secretary of Defense—not the Air Force—will oversee the new competition between Boeing Co. and a team led by Northrop Grumman Corp. More»