Ukrainian Tankers?

Ukrainian aircraft maker Antonov has entered an agreement with California-based U.S. Aerospace to compete in the Air Force's KC-X next-generation tanker competition, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

The July 1 filing, states the two companies have entered an agreement for “((p))articipation in the KC-X Tanker Modernization Program for the U.S. Air Force.”

“We anticipate bidding three models of aircraft, the AN-124-KC, AN-122-KC and AN-112-KC,” the notice states.

The team, in the filing, states that it notified the Pentagon of its intention to bid on July 1.

“The airframes will be built by Antonov in Ukraine, with final assembly in the United States,” the notice states. “We believe that we will be able to offer a superior ((aircraft)) at a significantly lower price than other potential bidders.”

Boeing and EADS are both expected to submit tanker bids, which are due on July 9. The Antonov-U.S. Aerospace filing and word that they would compete in the tanker competition was fist reported by Defense News this morning.