"Not yet". That is the line from Antonov on whether it has received a response to its shock last-minute bid for the US Air Force's KC-X tanker contest early this month.
"This is the first opportunity for us to bid in such a tender in the USA," says Antonov president general designer Dmitry Kyva. Teamed with US Aerospace, it has submitted a bid based on the proposed An-112KC.
"It is very difficult for us to evaluate our chances," he says, but adds: "Our aircraft meets all the requirements."
Kyva describes the Ukrainian company's surprise venture into the 179-aircraft KC-X battle as "a new experience". It hopes to receive a response allowing it to go forward in the contest, against the Boeing KC-767 NewGen Tanker and EADS North America KC-45, but he comments: "We will not be too upset if we don't."
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Source: Flight Daily News