Trent Lott To Help Northrop Keep Tanker Contract

Font Size By The Associated Press
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M30o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr Trent Lott To Help Northrop Keep Tanker Contract
Published: Thu, March 13, 2008 - 5:46 pm
Last Updated: Thu, March 13, 2008 - 5:58 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) - Northrop Grumman Corporation's chief executive
says Congress would undermine the entire government procurement
process if it tries to block a $35 billion Air Force contract won
by his company and its European partner.
Two days after Boeing filed its official protest of the air
tanker award, Northrop Chairman and CEO Ronald Sugar said letting
Congress step in and change the rules of the procurement game would
make companies simply not want to play.
The company has hired former Senators Trent Lott, of
Mississippi, and John Breaux, of Louisiana, to make its case.
On February 29th, the Air Force awarded a high-stakes aerial
refueling tanker contract to what many considered the underdog team
of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company and Northrop
Grumman.
The contract to replace 179 refueling tankers is the first of
three Air Force awards worth as much $100 billion to replace the
entire fleet of nearly 600 tankers over the next 30 years.
Northrop Grumman and EADS weren't expected to beat out Boeing,
which has been supplying refueling tanker to the Air Force for five
decades.
Surprise quickly turned to furor as Boeing, its friends in
Congress and labor unions registered their discontent.

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

Let us not forget that Mobile had to absorb a great loss with the closing of Brookley Air Force Base in the 60’s. The closing greatly effected Mobile’s economy and had an overwhelming impact on Civilian Employees and their families. It seems only fitting that Mobile receives such a prestigious award!  A special thank you to the United States Air Force for placing confidence in Northrop Grumman/EADS to satisfy their contract. And a Special thanks to Northrop Grumman/EADS for choosing Mobile. God Bless America!

Posted by kay on 03/15/08 - 4:13 pm • Report Abuse.   

boeing has been in bed with china forever

COMPANY NEWS; Boeing Planning to Invest $100 Million for China Plant

now i had rather a small portion of the plane be built in france who ousted a anti american president and voted a pro american president in and hey if boeing does not import from china they are investing in mexico

In an effort to get a head-start over its rival, Boeing is opening a sales office in Mexico City later this year and is planning to form a Mexican subsidiary which will manufacture aircraft parts for both the domestic market and for export.

boeing lost they need to get on with their chinese buddies and leave us alone oh yeah you think they are going to send all their union workers to mexico to work on these parts i dont think so but what they will do is knock out american jobs and american parts to cover the cost

Posted by rosepetal on 03/14/08 - 2:24 am • Report Abuse.   

Its about the future of America jobs, or the lack of.  I would be ok if Northrop would build the taxpayer “USA workers paychecks” funded plane in mobile. Not have Airbus workers take the high skilled jobs away from America.  For me, its not “all” about Boeing wining or losing a stacked deal.  Soon Airplane manufacturing will go the way of the VCR, and TV from the documented dumping of goods over many years from Japan so the US worker could not compete selling products for less then it cost to build them. Subsidies just like the A330 got so Airbus could sell a plane for less what it really costs to build.  Just wait what China will bring when its government Subsidies its growing aerospace.  Complete with that!  Mobile workers, and Boeing workers will not have a chance to compete in a fair playing field of the future unless we do something to change it now!

Posted by Fairplay on 03/14/08 - 1:27 am • Report Abuse.   

well you are worried about this being built overseas.  Firstly where there is a large sum of money there will usually be a fight.  And secondly, all of our oil is coming from overseas so that America can ratwhole theirs, because Bush is a Texas oil man...... Keep your eyes on the prize....

Posted by sweetnsour on 03/14/08 - 12:59 am • Report Abuse.   

You will see the truth when you see the scoring that was very even.  Not what you have herd huh? It will come out. How can you live with yourself that most of your tanker Tax payer dollars will go overseas. The Boeing Tanker will be 85% USA made.  Its a fact that will come out.  You will see the truth when you review the facts side by side, that will show the deal was not fair to Boeing.  But you will not care about the real truth when it comes out.

This is bad for the USA when you look at the long range impact, and you know it, good for a few, but not your nation.

Posted by Fairplay on 03/13/08 - 11:42 pm • Report Abuse.   

All the details need to be put into simple terms and a side-by-side comparison of all the aircraft is made.  The 767 only met the bare minimum requirements.  The 777 completely exceeds the maximum requirements and would but a tremendous burden on the Air Force.

The 330 surpassed the minimum requirements, but did not surpass the maximum allowable criterion and it costs less than the aging 767 that no longer has a commercial market!!!!!!!!

This is a regional turf war driven by bureaucrats that owe their souls to the company store and a union that has choked the life out of the competitive nature that built this country!

Posted by BamaBob on 03/13/08 - 7:01 pm • Report Abuse.   

there you go now the truth comes out its not whats best for our military its about the boeing labor unions give them enough time and the real motives will come out

Posted by rosepetal on 03/13/08 - 6:49 pm • Report Abuse.   



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