ST. LOUIS, Sept. 10, 2008 – The Boeing Company welcomes the Defense Department’s decision and believes that it will best serve the warfighter in allowing the appropriate time for this important and complex procurement to be conducted in a thorough and open competition. This will ensure delivery of the right tanker to the U.S. Air Force and serve the best interests of the American taxpayer. Boeing looks forward to working together with our customer and then offering a next-generation tanker that meets the long-term requirements of the men and women who will rely on this capability in future missions. In the meantime, the Boeing team will continue to support the Air Force in helping to keep the current KC-135 fleet flying its missions safely and reliably.