Defense Dept. officials

In a press conference yesterday, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III (pictured here at the podium) characterized the selection process as "fair, open, and transparent" and said that it "evaluated warfighting requirements, evaluated price, evaluated life-cycle costs." And the bottom line, he said, was this: "I think what we can tell you is Boeing was a clear winner."

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz (at left) expressed relief, saying that after an exhaustive review "we will get about delivering the capability that's long overdue and will stop talking about it."

Also pictured are Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley (second from left) and Ashton B. Carter, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology, and logistics (right).