The KC 135 was once the be-all and end-all plane for refueling other planes. These planes would travel up into the sky to meet another plane that was running low on fuel. While both planes remained in the air, the KC 135 would inject fuel into the other plane. This was especially useful during times of war or when over unfriendly territory because it allowed planes to remain in the air and not run out of fuel. However, because most of these planes are become decrepit and in very bad condition, they are being taken out of use and more and more models are starting to be retired. So, how will planes refuel? What will replace the KC 135?

At first, the job of building planes that could replace the KC 135 was awarded to Boeing, a major airplane manufacturer. However, scandal broke out when it was found that an employee at the Pentagon also had inside dealings with Boeing, making the awarding to Boeing unfair. This, and the fact that the lease had always been highly criticized, led to the contract betweeing Boeing and the American government being cancelled in early 2006.

The bid was then opened up to both Boeing and Northrop Grumman, who would team up with EADS, a European company, to make the planes. When Northrop Grumman was awarded during this second round, there was another huge outcry as people protested that this would take away from American jobs because these plans would be outsourced to Britain. In the end, it was decided that the planes Boeing had presented in their attempt to win the bid were the most cost effective option while the Northrop Grumman planes still weren’t up to par with military requirements. This led to a third round.

The third round to win the bid was open to only Boeing and Northrop Grumman. This round was held in July 2008 and would only focus on the problems that both Boeing and Northrop Grumman had in their previous models. However, because it was found that this part of the competition could not be completed before the end of the year, and because it was also an election year, it was decided that the bidding should be cancelled and reopened only under a new Presidential administration.

The fourth and final round began in September 2009. It was stated before either company presented their models that the plane that fell one percent or lower than the competition’s plane would win the bid. However, at the end of the year, Northrop Grumman threatened that they might withdraw from the competition because they felt as though it lay unfairly in Boeing’s favor. Northrop Grumman has yet to officially withdraw from the competition and whether or not they will is unknown.

So, what will replace the KC 135? Who knows?