Refueling Tanker Program: This Time the Air Force Means Business

With respect to the U.S. Air Force's program to replace its aging aerial refueling tankers, it may be time to expect the unexpected: that this big acquisition program may proceed hereafter without a major hitch.

Sheer necessity may make it so, according to a defense analyst who has spoken with senior Air Force officials about the program. That driving necessity: "They do not have the money to keep this competition going" indefinitely, said Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute, an Arlington, Va.-based think tank. ...