Support For Northrop Not Bidding On KC-X

Northrop Grumman and its partner EADS threatened a few weeks ago not to participate in the next attempt at buying a new tanker for U.S.A.F. Many feel that this is just a negotiating ploy to have the terms of the RFP changed to make it easier for Northrop to win. The company has expressed concern that the way the RFP is written now it will favor Boeing to the point that Northrop sees no reason to bid.

The U.S.A.F. and DoD need to attract multiple bids. They cannot go through with the program without some sort of competition. Now it has been made clear that both the Board of Directors of Northrop, stock analysts are shareholders are supportive of the plan not to propose. One would think that there should be an attempt to win $35 billion of work but the goal of Mr. Bush, the new CEO, and his supporters is to increase the margin and profitability of the company. This means he and his supporters want to concentrate on getting work and getting it done.

The KC-X program in its third iteration faces some problems. The chance of a protest by either losing side is high. Both teams have supporter in Congress. The program may be hard to get up-and-running with so much politics involved. If Northrop feels there is little chance of them winning this contract again or quickly making money off of it then they should not proceed.