Key Pentagon tanker session slips to Feb. 25

By Jim Wolf

WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (Reuters) - The top U.S. arms-buying panel will consider a $40 billion Air Force plan to start acquiring a new jet-refueling fleet on Feb. 25, three days later than previously announced, the U.S. Defense Department said on Wednesday.

The Pentagon's Defense Acquisition Board delayed the session from Feb. 22 because of unspecified "scheduling issues," said Cheryl Irwin, a department spokeswoman.

Boeing Co (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) is vying for the contract, for an initial 179 planes, against a team made up of Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Europe's EADS (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research). A winner-takes-all award is due to be announced at the end of this month.

Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne said earlier on Wednesday he expected the announcement soon after the meeting of the acquisition board chaired by John Young, an undersecretary of defense who serves as the top U.S. weapons buyer.

"You want to do it quick because ... it's like a fish, I mean, better eaten fresh," he told reporters after speaking to a defense-industry conference produced by Aviation Week magazine.

Wynne said he was still in the dark about whether Young would let him make the final sign-off on the winner of the contract as Air Force secretary.

"He can delegate to me... or he can take the decision on himself," Wynne said.

He said he was hopeful the losing side would not protest the award, contrary to the stated expectations of other senior Air Force officials.