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KC-X is the United States Air Force (USAF) program to procure its next-generation aerial refueling tanker aircraft to replace some of the older Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. The contest was for a production contract for 179 new tankers with estimated value of US$35 billion. The two contenders to replace the KC-135 aircraft were Boeing and EADS, following the elimination of US Aerospace, Inc. The current KC-X program follows earlier attempts by the USAF to procure a new tanker. A 2002 plan had the USAF leasing Boeing KC-767 tankers, followed by a 2003 modification where the USAF would buy most of the KC-767 aircraft and lease several more of them. Corruption investigations revealed wrongdoing in the award of the contract and the contract was canceled in 2005, setting the stage for the KC-X program. The USAF issued the KC-X request for proposal in January 2007,〔 then selected the Northrop Grumman/EADS team and their Airbus A330-based tankers in February 2008. In June 2008, the U.S. Government Accountability Office sustained a protest by Boeing on the award of the contract.〔〔(【引用サイトリンク】url = http://www.gao.gov/decisions/bidpro/311344.htm )〕 In July 2008, the U.S. Defense Department reopened the bidding process,〔 but canceled the KC-X solicitation in September 2008.〔("DoD Announces Termination of KC-X Tanker Solicitation" ). US DoD, 10 September 2008.〕 In September 2009, the USAF began the first steps toward accepting new bids.〔(Air Force Resumes Tanker Contest )〕 In March 2010, Northrop Grumman announced that it would pull out of the bidding process.〔 Despite Northrop Grumman's withdrawal, EADS decided to remain in the ongoing competition alone.〔(Avions ravitailleurs : EADS va soumettre une offre en solo )〕 The Air Force selected Boeing's KC-46 bid on 24 February 2011 and EADS declined to protest the award.〔(EADS concedes KC-X contract award to Boeing )〕 ==Background== The initial plan was to lease Boeing KC-767 tankers on a sole-source basis; Boeing is the only American company with the requisite industrial capability to manufacture large-body aircraft. As such, the KC-767 was initially selected in 2002〔("Boeing Given Nod on Tanker Lease" ) (arcived). Military-Aerospace Technology Magazine; volume: 1, issue: 2, 1 May 2002.〕 and in 2003 was awarded a US$20 billion contract to lease KC-767 tankers to replace the KC-135. Led by Senator John McCain, several US government leaders protested the lease contract as wasteful and problematic. In response to the protests, the Air Force struck a compromise in November 2003, whereby it would purchase 80 KC-767 aircraft and lease 20 more.〔("Tanker Twilight Zone" ). Air Force magazine, February 2004, Vol. 87, No. 2.〕 Yet in December 2003, the Pentagon announced the project was to be frozen while an investigation of allegations of corruption by one of its former procurement staffers, Darleen Druyun (who had moved to Boeing in January 2003) was begun. Druyun pled guilty of criminal wrongdoing and was sentenced to nine months in prison for "negotiating a job with Boeing at the same time she was involved in contracts with the company".〔Cahlink, George, ("Ex-Pentagon procurement executive gets jail time" ). Government Executive, October 1, 2004.〕 Additional fallout included the termination of CFO Michael M. Sears, who received a four-month prison sentence,〔Palmer, Kimberly, ("Former Air Force acquisition official released from jail," ) ''Government Executive.com'', October 3, 2005.〕 the resignation of Boeing CEO Philip M. Condit,〔Holmes, Stanley. ("Boeing: What Really Happened" ). Business Week Online, December 15, 2003.〕〔("Cashing In For Profit?" ). CBS, 5 January 2005.〕 and Boeing paying $615 million in fines.〔("Boeing to Pay United States Record $615 Million to Resolve Fraud Allegations" ). US Department of Justice, 30 June 2006.〕 In January 2006, the lease contract was formally canceled.〔Majumdar, Dave. ("Boeing wins KC-X tanker battle" ). AirForceTimes, 24 February 2011.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「KC-X」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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