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Boeing Co. on Tuesday ended its silence on its loss of the $40 billion aerial refueling-tanker contract, saying it wanted "an immediate debriefing" from the Air Force on why it gave the job to Northrop Grumman Corp. and its partner, European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co.

The Air Force has said it will debrief both sides "on or after" March 12, a delay that Boeing’s tanker vice president, Mark McGraw, called "unusual." The award was made public Friday.

McGraw requested a quicker discussion with Air Force brass, especially because details of the service’s decision process have begun trickling out in the press.

McGraw also questioned statements that have been made about the relative cost, risks and other factors that apparently went in favor of the Northrop—EADS proposal. EADS, also the parent of Boeing commercial-aircraft competitor Airbus SAS, is based in Paris and Munich.
"It is important for us to understand how the Air Force reached (its) conclusion," McGraw said.

"The questions we are asking, as well as others being raised about this decision, can best be answered with a timely debrief indicating how our proposal was graded against the stated requirements" of the Pentagon’s request for proposals.

These factors would weigh heavily in any protest Boeing might file; it would have to act within 10 days of its briefing quick payday loan. The company is considering a protest, and its congressional supporters and unions want an investigation into the contract award.

Some answers may come today, when the House Appropriations Committee holds a hearing on the contract with top Air Force weapons buyers.

John Young, the Defense Department’s undersecretary for acquisition, said in a statement Tuesday that the "Air Force conducted a very open, fair and detailed competition process with good communication with the bidders." Later in the day, Young told reporters that Boeing could be briefed as early as Thursday.

BLOOMBERG NEWS CONTRIBUTED INFORMATION FOR THIS STORY.

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