From this morning's Earlybird:

• "For years Northrop Grumman has been engaged in a seesaw competition with rival aerospace giant Boeing over" an estimated $35 billion contract for next-generation aerial refueling tankers, Roll Call (subscription) reports. "The protracted drama, however, may soon be coming to a close with the Pentagon expected to shortly seek final proposals for the fleet of in-air refueling tankers. As a result, Northrop Grumman and its allies have been waging a last-ditch public relations campaign and engaging in hardball political tactics to change the bidding process that it claims is tilted in favor of its rival."