New player in U.S. Tanker contract

Looks like there will be a 3rd wheel in the ongoing saga that is the U.S. Air Force Tanker Replacement Program.  On July 2nd, the Department of Defense confirmed that Ukranian aircraft maker Antonov, in partnership with California-based Aerospace Inc., has been approved to enter the contest.  Antonov will offer three models from its product line: the AN-124 and AN-122, which are commercial passenger aircraft currently in use today, and the AN-112, which Antonov states will be specifically designed to meet all of the U.S. Air Force's tanker requirements.  The tankers would be manufactured in the Ukraine and then finished at a new U.S. based factory.  As to where that factory will be located remains undecided.  Now all we need is for a Chinese-based company to enter the contest to make things even more interesting!

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