Expert Says Tanker "Gift To Boeing From Obama"

The new tanker requirements are out and things are not looking good for Northrop Grumman's chances to assemble tankers in Mobile.

Defense expert Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute has followed the tanker battle for years. He says that both planes meet the performance requirements for the Air Force.

Now, it all comes down to price.

Boeing's tanker is smaller and said to be cheaper than the plane being offered by Northrop and its partner EADS.

Thompson goes so far as to say that this is a gift to Boeing. "I think that Northrop Grumman has made the decision to not bid because it can't win. From its point of view, this solicitation is a gift to Boeing by the Obama administration."

Thompson says there are some options but they're limited. "It could mount a formal protest. It could ask Congress to block the award. It could question the award but it's really running out of options pretty quickly."

Northrop is expected to make a final decision on whether or not to bid by next week.