Northrop-EADS wins U.S. Air Force tanker, beats Boeing

An international consortium led by U.S. giant Northrop Grumman and European conglomerate EADS has won the U.S. Air Force’s competition for the next fleet of new aerial refueling aircraft, officials announced late Feb. 29.The winners beat U.S. contracting behemoth Boeing, which had been expected in some circles to win the award.



The much-awaited and delayed decision, which could set off a round of contracting bid protests, comes after a heated competition between the defense industry giants and that touched on everything from a previous Boeing tanker scandal to world trade subsidies and "Buy American" issues.



Source: Aviation Week & Space Technology, 02/18/2008
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