USAF ‘Really, Really Close’ To Bomber Contract Award: The US Air Force is “really, really close” to announcing which industry team will build its next-generation bomber, according to top service officials.
"We are not going to announce it today, but we are very close,” Air Force acquisition chief William LaPlante told reporters during a briefing at the Pentagon on Wednesday.
Industry is still holding its breath for the contract announcement, which could come anytime in the next few weeks. The upcoming award pits three giants in the aerospace world against each other: Northrop Grumman, builder of the B-2 stealth bomber, is competing against a joint Boeing-Lockheed Martin team for the project.
Although the Air Force has repeatedly postponed the contract award, LaPlante stressed that the program has not been delayed. Leadership is committed to making sure the source selection process is done right, he said.
