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County Commission Reacts

By WKRG Staff

Mobile County Commissioners respond to GAO report favoring Boeing over Northrop-Grumman/EADS in $35 billion Air Force contract County Commission Reacts

Published: Wed, June 18, 2008 - 3:04 pm Last Updated: Wed, June 18, 2008 - 3:14 pm

The following is a statement released from the Mobile County Commission shortly after the Government Accountability Office suggested the Air Force should reconsider the tanker contract.

Mobile County Commissioners remain optimistic after today’s ruling from the Government Accountability
Office. The GAO has found flaws in the way in which the Air Force awarded the contract to build its new
refueling tankers to Northrop Grumman and EADS. The GAO was acting on a protest by Boeing. The Air
Force may decide to re-bid the project.
“Clearly Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 is the best plane at the best price,” said Mobile County
Commissioner Stephen Nodine. “I think in the end that the planes will be built in Mobile County. We just
have to keep on fighting.”
If Northrop Grumman and partner EADS are ultimately selected, their KC-45 tanker will be assembled at
Brookley Field in Mobile. The KC-45 project is expected to create 1,500 new jobs at Brookley and
thousands of indirect jobs across the Gulf Coast.
After the Air Force awarded the contract to Northrop Grumman and EADS, Boeing embarked on a massive
public relations campaign, claiming the KC-45 would mean “outsourcing jobs” to Europe. Northrop
Grumman officials say not a single job would go overseas and that 48,000 jobs nationwide will be created
and 230 contractors in 49 states will be involved in manufacturing the KC-45.
“It’s unfortunate that Boeing’s mounted a misinformation campaign,” said Mobile County Commissioner
Mike Dean. “Now we have to remain positive and continue our fight to get the truth out about the KC-45.”
Mobile County Commissioners are encouraging citizens to stay informed and engaged. The county’s
keepourtanker.com website has been instrumental in attracting support for the KC-45.
“Keep contacting your representatives locally, regionally, and nationally,” said Mobile County
Commissioner Merceria Ludgood. “Let them know you support the KC-45. There’s a lot at stake for
Mobile and the entire region.”