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Northrop/EADS fuel tanker aircraft plant

Southron

By Southron
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Southron Burg

Southron

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Apparently the Northrop/EADS plane won in every major selection criteria category, which probably would make it difficult for Boeing to win an appeal. An Air Force General on why the Northrop/EADS plane was chosen: "More passengers, more cargo, more fuel to offload, more [battle casualties] it can carry, more availability, more flexibility and more dependability."

Mobile Press-Register: Air Force awards tanker contract to Northrop-EADS

Los Angeles Times: Northrop-Airbus team wins aerial tanker deal

Reuters: Northrop-EADS beats Boeing to build U.S. tanker

Mobile Press-Register: Next challenge: Find the workforce

Reuters: Congress in turmoil over Air Force tanker decision

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Southron Burg

Southron

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Boeing may protest the contract award and try to take the fight to Congress, but analysts doubt the company would be successful. A protest would probably hold up the process for many months, though.

Mobile Press-Register: Boeing could challenge tanker decision, but analysts question chances of success

Birmingham News: Air Force tankers to be built in Mobile, bringing at least 1,500 jobs

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Southron Burg

Southron

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A defense analyst predicts that Boeing has about a 5 percent chance of reversing the award of the tanker contract to Northrup/EADS. He also said there is a 35 percent chance that the Air Force will end up buying both the Northrop and Boeing planes with a split contract, though military officials have insisted they have neither the money nor the desire to do this. In any event, the analyst says there is about a 50 percent chance that the final contract award will be delayed by a year or two.

Analyst: Chances slim to reverse tanker deal

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elb401 Whistle-Stop

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But if you add in the idiots in congress, which want to create a monopoly, then Northrup has about a 5% chance in keeping the contract. NG doesn't have the power to fight off Boeing's wolves. Its sad that they say they are doing this for the American people....but in all reality they will be doing our country wrong. Boeing's tanker isn't wanted by anyone in the world but some in the US congress (which are being payed off). The two countries that bought them are now questioning their deal saying it was a bad choice. America's congress is a joke, I don't have faith in any of them.

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Southron Burg

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^ Yeah, looks like the Boeing backers in Congress are going to play hardball. A former Boeing employee, now a congressman from Kansas, wants to amend the Iraq war funding bill to prohibit the Pentagon from contracting with any foreign company that receives government subsidies and has litigation pending before the World Trade Organization. This would completely eliminate EADS/Northrop from the deal.

I guess Boeing's lackey has forgotten that our aircraft manufacturers sell a lot of planes overseas, or just doesn't care if foreign markets dry up for US companies.

Kansas congressman drafting bill that would reverse tanker award

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Southron Burg

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Missed this article about suppliers.

Northrop officials said supply and support work for the tanker would be scattered over 110 sites in Alabama and 15 other states, ranging from one site in Arkansas to 42 in California.

In Alabama, Northrop said suppliers would include:

  • Goodrich Corp. in Foley, engine sub-assemblies.

  • GKN Westland Aerospace in Tallassee, composite wing panels.

  • PPG Industries in Huntsville, glass and windshields.

  • BASF/Engelhard in Huntsville, ozone converters.

Suppliers are sought

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Southron Burg

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Airbus is likely to eventually shift its entire A330 commercial aircraft line to Mobile. Airbus is increasing production of its A350 and A380 planes in Toulouse, and needs additional production capacity to meet demand. A company official said the first Alabama-made A330 should be completed in 2011, and Mobile will be the only site of A330 freighter production by 2013.

Airbus: Vision of glory for Mobile

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Southron Burg

Southron

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More info on the tanker contract situation in today's Mobile Press-Register. The GAO recommended that the Air Force launch a new competition, which could add a year or more to the process. The Air Force has 60 days to respond with a course of action. Some analysts are now beginning to say that a split decision may be the end result because of Boeing's political clout.

Boeing tanker bid protest upheld

Both sides agree GAO ruling is likely to disrupt tanker process

Seattle Post Intelligencer: Boeing back in tanker running

Seattle Times: Boeing tanker "back in the game" after GAO backs company's protest

Reuters: U.S. auditors bash Air Force over refueling tanker

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Southron Burg

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Northrop canceled a groundbreaking ceremony that had been scheduled for June 28th for its proposed $600 million aircraft assembly plant in Mobile. Interesting info in a Washington Post article about how active the Boeing and Northrop PACs have been in recent months.

Mobile Press-Register: Fight looms over tanker

Washington Post: Air Force Faulted Over Handling Of Tanker Deal

Washington Post: Tanker Fight Fueled by Millions in Campaign Cash

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Southron Burg

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Defense Secretary Robert Gates said today that Boeing and Northrop/EADS will submit new offers for the Air Force tanker contract, and DOD (not the Air Force) will pick a winner by the end of the year. Pentagon acquisition chief John Young will oversee the process with a selection committee.

Gates says Pentagon will reopen tanker bid

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