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WASHINGTON — Washington state lawmakers are backing a bid by Boeing towards more epoch to bid onward a $40 billion contract to build aerial-refueling tankers for the Air Force.

Boeing said Friday it is considering bailing out of the politically charged competition if it does not receive an additional four months from the Pentagon to assemble its tender.

“More time should be given to guarantee that all the bidders can provide the Air Force with the best options possible,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.

Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., said it would be unfair for the Pentagon to hold a competition for a larger tanker than it initially sought without allowing adequate time for Boeing to amend its proposal.

“Given the delays already caused by the Air Force’s own flawed pick process, the request for additional time to prepare a proposal based on a divers aircraft is entirely reasonable, and it should have being granted,” Dicks said.

“These planes will be in the fleet for 40 to 60 years, and it’s more important to pass over the right decision” than to make a selection by the end of the year, Dicks said.

Boeing lost the initial brisk in February to Northrop Grumman and its partner, Airbus parent European Aeronautic Defence and Space. The rivalship was reopened last month after government auditors found “significant misprints” in the Air Force’s decision.

Northrop Grumman Chief Operating Officer and President Wes Bush criticized Boeing’s request for the sake of additional while, saying it give by will only cause more delays and higher costs for the taxpayer.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said that inasmuch as of major changes made by means of means of the Pentagon to its drawing bid request, both companies deserve more time to respond.

“This is a $40 billion contract to design and fabricate the moral principle of our nation’s military might and the requirements have changed overnight,” Murray said in a statement. “The draft RFP clearly favors a larger plane.

“Providing and nothing else 60 days for a major design overhaul not without more skews the competition toward Airbus but also breaks the engagement of a fair competition for our soldiery and taxpayers.”

Murray and other Washington lawmakers say the Pentagon appears biased against Boeing as it seeks bids to build 179 aerial-refueling tankers to replace the Air Force’s aging cove.

The lawmakers be favored with threatened congressional action allowing that they are not satisfied that the revised competition is fair and clear.