Air Force: We Chose The Better Plane

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By The Associated Press

M50o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr Air Force: We Chose The Better Plane

Published: Wed, March 05, 2008 - 4:04 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) - Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne told
lawmakers today the European refueling tanker that won a $35
billion Pentagon contract last week "was clearly a better
performer" than its U.S. rival. He made the comments at a Senate
Armed Services Committee hearing.
Wynne said the planes were judged on nine key criteria, and he
said the Northrop Grumman airplane was clearly a better performer.
Committee Chairman Carl Levin of Michigan and the panel's top
Republican, John Warner of Virginia, said they will want more
information on how the contract was won after the companies are
briefed Friday.
But Warner, who oversaw the tanker deal as head of the committee
before Levin, commended the Air Force's process and said he
supports the decision.
The EADS/Northrop Grumman team plans to perform its final
assembly work in Mobile, although the underlying plane would mostly
be built in Europe. And it would use General Electric engines built
in North Carolina and Ohio.
The contract award could still be challenged by Boeing or
members of Congress.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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