Highlighting reasons the U.S. Air Force selected the KC-45 Tanker as best
for our men and women in uniform.
WASHINGTON, May 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The U.S. Air Force found
Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE: NOC) bid to build the next generation
of aerial refueling tankers superior to Boeing's in four of the five most
important selection criteria. Despite this fact, the losing bidder wants
the Government Accountability Office to overturn the Air Force decision to
award the contract to Northrop Grumman even though the Air Force conducted
what even Boeing described as a fair, open and transparent bidding process.
Here is another reason Northrop Grumman won, drawn from a list of facts
included in a redacted version of a protected Air Force selection document.
Fleet Effectiveness
In the KC-X Request for Proposal, the Air Force analyzed each competing
aircraft's operational capability as part of its assessment criteria. To do
so, the Air Force simulated the operations of a KC-45 and KC-767 fleet in a
highly realistic global conflict scenario using a verified and validated
Air Force simulation tool. The tankers had to fly missions operating from
real-world bases in a range of demanding roles, such as supporting fighter
deployments and refueling combat aircraft. The simulation thus factored in
the complex interactions of aircraft performance in the context of ramp
space constraints, airfield and ramp strength, distances to multiple
refueling orbit locations, and high levels of refueling demand.
After completing the simulation, the Air Force calculated how many
KC-135Rs were required to meet demand and divided this total by the number
of KC-45s or KC-767s required. The resulting number generated a Fleet
Effectiveness Value (FEV), which in essence quantifies the value of each
new tanker in terms of KC-135 equivalents.
According to the Air Force's calculations, the KC-767's FEV was 1.79
compared to the KC-45's FEV of 1.90. As the Air Force source selection
document stated, "Northrop Grumman (is) more advantageous." The Air Force
continued, "Northrop Grumman's FEV of 1.90 is superior to Boeing's FEV of
1.79." What this means, the Air Force went on to explain, is that "Northrop
Grumman's proposed aircraft can accomplish the designated scenario ... with
22 fewer aircraft than Boeing's proposed aircraft -- an efficiency of
significant value to the government."
The KC-45 provided superior operational performance in realistic combat
scenarios. The Air Force concluded that Northrop Grumman's ability to
fulfill future mission needs using fewer aircraft -- at lower cost -- "Was
a discriminator" in the Air Force's ultimate decision that Northrop
Grumman's bid provided better value than Boeing's offering.
As Sue Payton, the Air Force' chief acquisition officer, put it in a
Feb. 29 news conference announcing the award, "Northrop Grumman clearly
provided the best value to the government."
About the KC-45
The KC-45 Tanker aircraft will be assembled in Mobile, Ala., and the
KC-45 team will employ 48,000 American workers at 230 U.S. companies in 49
states. It will be built by a world-class industrial team led by Northrop
Grumman, and includes EADS North America, General Electric Aviation and
Sargent Fletcher.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense and technology company
whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions
in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to
government and commercial customers worldwide.
SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.northropgrumman.com/kc45
CONTACT:
Randy Belote, +1-703-875-8525,
randy.belote@ngc.com, or Tim Paynter, +1-321-961-1101,
tim.paynter@ngc.com, both of Northrop Grumman Corporation
|
