How can one come to that conclusion?? The Italians wanted a tanker in service by 2005 when the Airbus hadn’t even flown. Compare that to the KC-X.
Besides, the KC-767NG on offer to the USAF is very different from the adaptations sold to the Japanese and Italians. And the Italian tankers were supposed to have been delivered in 2005.
Well, take it more as a question than as a conclusion. Im just remembering that most USAF planes spend decades in development. And then i read the airbus wasnt even a concept yet when the Italians went shopping.
And im still a little creeped out by the Newark airbus crash, and the one that just disintegrated coming from Brazil. Id like the Airbus to be a better proven plane before it’s pushed on our kids.