More delays in tanker?

Defense industry sources told The Hill in recent weeks that the $35 billion contract to build Air Force tankers won't be awarded until mid-February. Now a defense insider says it may not come until March or later. That's because of a Senate probe into the inadvertent release of bidders' information to the competing bidders, Boeing and EADS. An initial hearing by the Senate Armed Services Committee is scheduled for Jan. 27. (Source: The Hill, 01/23/11) Gulf Coast note: EADS North America wants to assemble the plans in Mobile, Ala.