Print edition: 
WASHINGTON — European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co. says it might want to compete for the new aerial tanker program and the U.S. Defense Department is considering extending the deadline to allow a bid, a Pentagon spokesman said.
Given the request, military officials would consider a "reasonable extension" to let companies compete, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said in an e-mail. EADS had been seeking the $35 billion program as a partner with Northrop Grumman Corp., which dropped out March 8 and left Boeing as the only bidder.
"The Department has received notification from EADS North America indicating possible interest in competing for the Air Force's KC-X Tanker, and we would welcome that," Morrell wrote. EADS is the parent of Toulouse, France-based Airbus.
"Consistent with our commitment to conduct a fair and open competition, the department invites proposals from all qualified contractors and, if necessary, we would consider a reasonable extension to the (request for proposals) deadline. That is not unusual," Morrell said, listing seven examples.
The Pentagon said Feb. 24 when it announced its final request for bids that companies reviewing the proposal would have 75 days to respond.
EADS North American spokesman Guy Hicks in an e-mail said he had no immediate comment.
Northrop and EADS had entered the competition with a variant of the Airbus A330, which is larger than the 767 model offered by Boeing. They won the order in 2008, only to see their victory unravel after Boeing contested the process.
Boeing, meanwhile, "is 100 percent focused on submitting a fully responsive, transparent and competitive tanker proposal to the Air Force," spokesman William Barksdale said in an e-mail.
