WASHINGTON, April 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In an exclusive interview, Shay Assad, director of procurement and acquisition policy at the Pentagon, shares with Aviation Week new details about the KC-46A contract, Boeing's $4.4 billion tanker, and specifics of how the contract will be executed along with a never-before-seen image of the aircraft the United States Air Force is buying.

Senior Pentagon Editor Amy Butler's interview with Assad is detailed on AviationWeek.com and in the April 11, 2011 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology.

The article, "Refueled: Pentagon Gives First Peek at KC-46A Details," highlights what the U.S. Defense Department says was a disciplined, no-ambiguity approach during the KC-X competition between Boeing and EADS. It further examines Boeing's contract, including the proposed timeline and possible pricing figures for the aircraft, and shows a first-ever artist's depiction of the KC-46A, which is notably lacking the prominent winglets appearing in earlier images of the aircraft.

Complete content of the article is available at www.aviationweek.com. To schedule interviews or request further commentary from Amy Butler, reporters may contact Lisa Jaycox (+1 212-512-3272, lisa_jaycox@aviationweek.com) or Joe D'Andrea (+1 212-904-3780, joseph_dandrea@aviationweek.com).

About Aviation Week:

Aviation Week, part of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is the largest multimedia information and services provider to the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries, and includes http://AviationWeek.com, Aviation Week & Space Technology, Defense Technology International, Business & Commercial Aviation, Overhaul & Maintenance, ShowNews, Aviation Daily, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, The Weekly of Business Aviation, Aviation Week Intelligence Network, MRO Links and MRO Prospector. The group also produces major events around the world.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies:

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global financial information and education company that helps professionals and students succeed in the knowledge economy. Leading brands include Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, Platts energy information services and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has approximately 21,000 employees with more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2010 were $6.2 billion. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com.

SOURCE Aviation Week