A fresh winter storm of criticism hit Chicago-based Boeing Co., as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said a $20 billion deal for Air Force tanker planes appeared to be tainted by “wrongdoing.”
Rumsfeld told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he has ordered fresh reviews of the tanker deal.
One will take a look at whether the Air Force really needs 100 new planes, or if it could upgrade its aging tanker fleet in other ways. Another will examine once more how the controversial leasing deal was spawned.
The Air Force can’t proceed with the contract until reviews by the Pentagon’s general counsel office, the Defense Science Board and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces are completed.
The Air Force has said it needs the new planes, based on the Boeing 767 civilian aircraft, to begin replacing its aging fleet of 544 tankers, used to refuel bombers, fighters and other planes in midair. Most are at least 40 years old.
Last month, Phil Condit resigned as Boeing CEO after the company fired two top executives involved in the contract. He has been replaced by Harry Stonecipher.
Watch for: additional fallout on Capitol Hill, where Boeing inevitably will face more slaps from members of Congress over its once-cozy relationships with the Air Force.
