Tanker Contest Could Lead To Air Force Changes
By
The Associated Press
Published: Wed, March 05, 2008 - 11:07 am
as tomorrow why it awarded a $35 billion aerial refueling tanker
contract to rival EADS and its partner, Northrop Grumman.
Boeing, which has been supplying refueling tankers to the Air
Force for nearly 50 years and was widely expected to win the deal,
will not decide whether to protest the decision until it is
debriefed.
The Air Force decision to award the high-stakes deal to EADS and
Northrop Grumman has touched off a furor in Congress and led many
lawmakers to question why the Pentagon would give such an important
contract to a foreign company.
The backlash has been strongest among lawmakers from Washington,
Kansas and other states that would have gained jobs had Boeing won.
The contract to build up to 179 tankers is the first of three Air
Force awards worth as much $100 billion.
The EADS/Northrop Grumman team plans to perform its final
assembly work in Mobile.
Governor Bob Riley said the superior plane won.
Do you have a question about the tanker contract? We want to get them answered. Email your questions to
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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