Showtime for KC-X (updated)

According to the Defense Department's Web site, Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn, Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter and Air Force Secretary Michael Donley will conduct a briefing on the upcoming draft request for proposal for the KC-X tanker recapitalization program Thursday at 4 p.m. in the DOD briefing room.

InsideDefense.com first reported this on Tuesday:

Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn plans to brief lawmakers this Thursday on the Pentagon's new acquisition strategy for a fleet of Air Force aerial refueling tankers, a move that marks the relaunch of a $35 billion, winner-take-all competition between aerospace giants Boeing and Airbus, whose parent company EADS is partnered with Northrop Grumman.

The Pentagon today notified Congress that Lynn -- along with Pentagon acquisition executive Ashton Carter and Air Force Secretary Michael Donley -- will travel to Capitol Hill the morning of Sept. 24 to explain the new strategy for procuring the KC-X aircraft, according to congressional and industry sources. Industry is expected to be briefed on a draft request for proposals later in the day, sources said.

Editor's note: The original version of this entry misspelled the name of the Air Force secretary.