Washington, D.C. – The Air Force has conceded it chose the more expensive option in awarding a $35 billion contract for refueling tankers to a team led by Northrop Grumman instead of Boeing.
Northrop acknowledged Boeing's assertions that its proposal included cheaper life cycle costs for the tankers.
Boeing's action is the company's latest attempt to show that the Air Force's award to European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company or EADS was unfair.
Thursday's disclosure comes days before the Government Accountability Office is set to rule on Boeing's protest of the deal.
Although the Air Force is not bound by the GAO decision, any finding of error with the competition is certain to give ammunition to Boeing's supporters in Congress as they seek to block or overturn it.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)