WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) issued the following statement in response to the Department of Defense’s announcement that the Request for Proposals (RFP) deadline for the KC-X Tanker may be extended by an additional 60 days:

"After multiple setbacks to replace the aging fleet of aerial refueling tankers, I am extremely disappointed to hear that the Department of Defense may once again delay the procurement process.

"Replacing the current, aging fleet of tankers is the Air Force’s top acquisition priority. It’s critical that we replace these aging aircraft and provide the warfighters with a new tanker that will meet their current and future mission requirements. A decision to extend the RFP by an additional 60 days will only further delay the warfighters’ access to this valuable equipment.

"While I believe that a fair, open, and transparent competition will benefit both the taxpayer and the warfighter, the original RFP timeline provides adequate time for potential bidders to evaluate the requirements and submit a viable proposal for consideration by the Department of Defense."