CHRONOLOGY-US Air Force tanker award will cap long saga

Feb 25 (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force is poised to award a multi-billion-dollar aerial refueling tanker contract following a plan killed by Congress in 2004 amid a procurement scandal that sent two former Boeing Co (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) officials to prison on conflict-of-interest charges.

In the current competition, Boeing offered its 767 and touted its 70-year history building tankers. The rival team of Northrop Grumman (NOC.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and EADS (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) submitted a bid with a version of the Airbus A330 aircraft, which they argued could carry more fuel and cargo.

Following is a chronology of events in the Air Force's effort to begin replacing its aging fleet of KC-135 aerial refueling tankers:

Sept. 25, 2001 - Darleen Druyun, then the Air Force's No. 2 acquisition official, meets with officials at Boeing to lay out a strategy to lease 100 Boeing 767s.

Oct. 9, 2001 - Then-Air Force Secretary James Roche says the service could lease Boeing 767s with an option to buy, if Congress passed supporting legislation.

January 2002 - Congress passes law appropriating defense funds for fiscal year 2002 that includes language saying the Air Force may lease up to 100 Boeing 767s.

February 2002 - Air Force requests information from Boeing and Airbus parent EADS about tanker capabilities.

September 2002 - Facing questions from Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain about the urgency to replace tankers, the Air Force begins to cite a significant corrosion problem. However, the comments are contradicted by formal studies that view the corrosion problem as manageable.

Oct. 17, 2002 - Druyun meets with then Boeing Chief Financial Officer Michael Sears to discuss a job offer. Sears tells her: "This meeting really didn't take place."