Tanker rematch reheating soon?

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday in Washington that he's committed to launching a new competition for the Air Force's tanker contract as quickly as possible. Gates told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee that he plans to meet with top Air Force officials in the next few weeks to begin planning for a rematch between Boeing and a team led by Northrop Grumman and EADS North America. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 01/28/09) Gulf Coast note: All three companies have operations in the Gulf Coast. If the Northrop Grumman/EADS team wins, it plans to assemble the planes in Mobile, Ala.