PAUL LEWIS / SEAL BEACH
Boeing hopes to finally sign an agreement with the US Air Force by next month to lease 100 new-build 767 tankers. Based on a recently concluded handshake deal, the tankers will be worth $21 billion, including the optional cost of purchasing the aircraft at the end of the 10-year lease.
The Office of the Secretary of Defence (OSD) is expected this week to forward a report on the proposed agreement to the US Congress, which must approve the deal. The air force and Boeing are understood to have reached a handshake agreement a few weeks ago after nine months of negotiations. The deal has since been under OSD scrutiny.
Boeing says the cost of leasing, excluding the option to buy, will total $17 billion, less than the $26 billion and $31 billion estimated last year by the White House's office of budget management and the Congressional Budget Office respectively. The cost of supporting the aircraft, based on 750h annual utilisation, adds a further $4 billion, and air force investment in new infrastructure could push the total bill nearer $30 billion, some analysts suggest.
Boeing contends that offset against this is the projected $5.5 billion cost of maintenance and upgrades for operation of the 128 Boeing KC-135Es if not replaced by the 767.
Source: Flight International
