Tanker Competition

Press Release

Senator Roberts criticized Department of Defense's decision to extend the deadline by 60 days for proposals in the competition to select a new aerial refueling tanker for the Air Force.

"It is unfortunate that after years of delays, DOD has decided to ignore its own deadlines. Given the controversy of this acquisition, I should think DOD would want to run an undeniably fair competition instead of allowing further games to be played with the process. I am confident Boeing can build the best plane for the Air Force, no matter the competition," Senator Roberts said. "However, I urge the Department of Defense to run a fair competition and avoid coddling EADS to the detriment of American warfighters who have waited eight years for this contest to end and decades for a new tanker. I urge EADS to quit delaying and make a decision on entering the competition."

Senator Roberts has long fought to replace the nation's aging tanker fleet at the earliest possible date, to give men and women in uniform the safest and best plane to complete their mission. The current tankers being used by the Air Force are from the Eisenhower era.

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