The latest bit of quirkiness in the ongoing USAF tanker saga...

[Dave S.]

With EADS' on-again-off-again indecisiveness about bidding as a prime contractor for the latest round of the USAF tanker competition, here's a bizarre twist that I bet no one predicted: a Russian based design to be bid for the USAF's aerial refueling tanker...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011392418_russiatanker20.html

[jslugman]

I've heard the Russian thing on and off for some time. I wish they'd get something in the works.

[Joe Copalman]

"In Soviet Russia, tanker bids on you."

[Rob Silliman]

Russian tanker would be useful from an eco perspective.  Isn't vodka considered a Bio-fuel?

[Chris Kennedy]

The Air Force is doing their best to screw up this whole thing again. Now they have sent data on Boeing's bid to EADS and vice versa. They both say they didn't look at the data, but who believes that. This will probably mean that whoever loses will probably sue to overturn the contract award again.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/business/21tanker.html?_r=2&src=busln

[jslugman]

And in related news there's a "we lost the boom" accident with the Aussie KC-30 tanker and a Portuguese F-16:

http://leehamnews.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/kc-30a-for-raaf-involved-in-in-flight-incident-refueling-boom-lost/