	Introduction

On February 24, 2011, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced the Boeing Company as the winner of a competition to build 179 new KC-46A aerial refueling tankers for the Air Force, a contract valued at roughly $35 billion. The KC-46A acquisition program is a subject of intense interest because of the dollar value of the contract, the number of jobs it may create, the importance of tanker aircraft to U.S. military operations, and because previous attempts by DOD to move ahead with a KC-X acquisition program over the last several years have led to controversy and ultimately failed. The explanatory statement accompanying the conference report on H.R. 933 put funding at $1,738.5 million, a reduction of $77.1 million from the Administration request. The KC-10 is a much larger aircraft than the KC-135 or the KC-46A. 4310/S. Senate

The Senate Armed Services Committee, in its report accompanying S. 3254 , recommended funding the Next Generation Aerial Refueling Aircraft program at $1,728.5 million, $87.1 million below the requested level, with the following explanation:
Next generation aerial refueling aircraft
The budget request included $1,815.6 million to continue development of the KC–46A, the next-generation aerial refueling aircraft. 5856 , recommended funding the Next Generation Aerial Refueling Aircraft program at $1,738.5 million, $77.1 million below the requested level, for "Air Force identified forward financing." 933 put funding at $1,738.5 million. 1253)

			House

As passed by the House, H.R. Senate
The Senate Appropriations Committee report ( S.Rept. FY2011 Defense Authorization Bill ( H.R. 5136 , recommends approving the Administration's request for $863.9 million in research and development funding for the KC-X program. 2. 2647 , recommends approving the Administration's request for $439.6 million in research and development funding for the KC-X program. FY2010 DOD Appropriations Bill ( H.R. House
The House Appropriations Committee, in its report ( H.Rept.
On February 24, 2011, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced the Boeing Company as the winner of a competition to build 179 new KC-46A aerial refueling tankers for the Air Force, a contract valued at roughly $35 billion. Prior to the announcement, the program had been known as KC-X.
The KC-46A acquisition program is a subject of intense interest because of the dollar value of the contract, the number of jobs it would create, the importance of tanker aircraft to U.S. military operations, and because DOD's previous attempts to acquire a new tanker since 2001 had ultimately failed.
DOD's KC-46A acquisition strategy poses potential oversight issues for Congress, including the following: What are the effects of budget cuts on executability of the KC-46A program? What if any effect will the announced closure of Boeing's Wichita, KS, plant have on the KC-46 program? What alternatives does the Air Force have to extend KC-135 service life if the KC-46 is delayed?
FY2013 defense authorization bill: H.R. 4310, as passed by the House, recommended approving the Administration's request for $1,815.6 million in research and development funding for the Next Generation Aerial Refueling Aircraft program. S. 3254, as passed by the Senate, recommended $1,728.5 million, $87.1 million less than the Administration's requested funding level for KC-X. The FY2013 conference report set funding at $1,738.5 million, $77.1 million less than the Administration's request, citing excess prior-year funds.
FY2013 DOD appropriations bill: The House Appropriations Committee, in its report (H.Rept. 112-493 of May 25, 2012), recommended approving the Administration's request for $1,815.6 million in research and development funding for the Next Generation Aerial Refueling Aircraft program. The Senate Appropriations Committee, in its report (S.Rept. 112-196 of August 2, 2012), recommended $1,738.5 million for the Next Generation Aerial Refueling Aircraft, a reduction of $77.1 million from the Administration request. The explanatory statement accompanying the conference report on H.R. 933 put funding at $1,738.5 million.