Boeing remains 100% focused on the KC-X competition and intends to submit a fully responsive, transparent and competitive proposal that meets the terms the Air Force has announced. As we have in each of the previous rounds of competition, Boeing will offer the most capable tanker and the tanker best suited to begin modernizing the aging KC-135 fleet -- at lower total life cycle cost than any competitor. The Boeing NewGen Tanker will be safe and survivable in combat, will save the American taxpayer $10 billion in fuel costs over its 40-year life, and is American designed and built. The men and women of Boeing are dedicated to getting our aircrews the aircraft they deserve to replace the aging KC-135 fleet.

We want to thank you for your continued encouragement, particularly over the past months. As we pored over the requirements spelled out in the Air Force's final Request for Proposal, it struck us that we couldn't have reached this point without our stellar team of employees, suppliers and friends.

So we wanted you to be the first to know that, after reviewing the final RFP, Boeing is ready to make a KC-X Tanker announcement at 1:00 pm EST on UnitedStatesTanker.com.

The Boeing Company today received the final Request for Proposal document for the U.S. Air Force KC-X Tanker competition.

I'm writing this blog entry from Orlando, Florida, host to the Air Force Association's (AFA) annual winter Air Warfare Symposium. Senior leaders from America's Air Force convene today and Friday to talk about their key priorities and work challenging issues.

If you've been following the U.S. Air Force's KC-X Tanker competition, you might be aware that the next major milestone is the release of the final Request for Proposal (RFP). Late yesterday afternoon we saw a notice on the Federal Business Opportunities website alerting industry that the final RFP could be released in a couple of weeks.

There's an old saying that where your treasure is, you'll also find your heart. That seems to apply to the U.S. Air Force's KC-X Tanker Program and the new Department of Defense (DoD) fiscal 2011 budget.