Still Hopeful.

This article reports that Boeing Co. officials are downplaying the findings of the long-anticipated Pentagon Mobility Capabilities Study (MCS), which stopped short of requiring more C-17s despite an impending production line closure that would start next year. MCS is not the only blueprint for Pentagon spending, and should be considered in a broader context, top company officials said during an October 28, 2005 conference call with reporters. The U.S. Defense Department officials said that the planned force structure for transport aircraft, without adding new C-17s and Lockheed Martin Corp. C-130Js, would be able to handle the military's requirements. Boeing officials are eyeing a potential U.S. Air Force competition for a future light cargo aircraft.