Published: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Boeing tanker bid gains backers
Governors from nine states where Boeing does business urge the government to award it the lucrative tanker contract.
Nine governors have launched a coalition to support the Boeing Co.’s efforts to win the U.S. Air Force aerial refueling tanker contest.
“There is only one competitor that has the capability to build this tanker now,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire at a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Monday. “We know the Boeing airplane will be the best.”
Boeing is competing against Northrop Grumman-EADS for the $35 billion tanker contract. The Air Force is expected to release its final rules for replacing 179 of its KC-135 tankers as early as today and no later than Friday. This marks the Pentagon’s third try at replacing the KC-135s, which were built by Boeing roughly 50 years ago and was similar to the Boeing 707.
“We think it’s important for the administration and for Congress to hear from the governors,” said Gregoire, whose state of Washington would secure thousands of jobs from a Boeing win.
Gregoire serves as chairwoman of the U.S. Tanker 2010 coalition, which includes business and labor organizations. Governors from the states of Kansas, Missouri, Maine, Iowa, Utah, Oregon, Illinois and Connecticut round out the group. The coalition’s message is straightforward: Award the contract to Boeing. Put Americans to work. Don’t delay.
“With a lagging economy, we can’t afford to send thousands of jobs and billions of dollars overseas,” said Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon. “We need these jobs right here at home.”
Boeing backers have long claimed the Northrop and EADS tanker wouldn’t be as “American” as Boeing’s. Northrop and EADS would assemble their tanker, based on an Airbus A330 jet, in Alabama. Airbus’ major suppliers, many in Europe, would continue to build the major sections.
Northrop and EADS have a coalition, not unlike Gregoire’s, in their corner. Several Gulf Coast states formed the Aerospace Alliance last year to lobby for aerospace interests there. The Alliance has been pushing for a dual-award of the contract.
On Monday, a third coalition, dubbed Build Them Both, also began to campaign for splitting the tanker contract between Boeing and Northrop-EADS. Awarding the contract to both defense contractors will create even more jobs for people in this country and get the Air Force tankers more quickly, Carrie Giddins, spokeswoman for the group, wrote in a letter to Gregoire on Monday. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said repeatedly that he opposes splitting the contract.
Depending on the Air Force’s requirements, Northrop could drop out of the contest altogether. The Los Angeles-based company has claimed the Air Force’s initial rules favored Boeing.
But that hasn’t stopped the company from launching a major public relations campaign, with its senior executives traveling to states that stand to reap economic benefits if the Northrop-Airbus team wins. This month alone, Northrop officials have met with lawmakers in Ohio, Florida, Michigan and North Carolina.
“We’re just advising people that there’s an opportunity for thousands of jobs in their state if we win the competition,” said Randy Belote, a Northrop spokesman. “That opportunity could be taken away if the final Request for Proposal does not undergo substantive changes.”
The Los Angeles Times contributed to this report.
For more on the coalitions, go to www.ustanker2010.com; http://buildthemboth.com; www.aerospacealliance.com.
“There is only one competitor that has the capability to build this tanker now,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire at a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Monday. “We know the Boeing airplane will be the best.”
Boeing is competing against Northrop Grumman-EADS for the $35 billion tanker contract. The Air Force is expected to release its final rules for replacing 179 of its KC-135 tankers as early as today and no later than Friday. This marks the Pentagon’s third try at replacing the KC-135s, which were built by Boeing roughly 50 years ago and was similar to the Boeing 707.
“We think it’s important for the administration and for Congress to hear from the governors,” said Gregoire, whose state of Washington would secure thousands of jobs from a Boeing win.
Gregoire serves as chairwoman of the U.S. Tanker 2010 coalition, which includes business and labor organizations. Governors from the states of Kansas, Missouri, Maine, Iowa, Utah, Oregon, Illinois and Connecticut round out the group. The coalition’s message is straightforward: Award the contract to Boeing. Put Americans to work. Don’t delay.
“With a lagging economy, we can’t afford to send thousands of jobs and billions of dollars overseas,” said Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon. “We need these jobs right here at home.”
Boeing backers have long claimed the Northrop and EADS tanker wouldn’t be as “American” as Boeing’s. Northrop and EADS would assemble their tanker, based on an Airbus A330 jet, in Alabama. Airbus’ major suppliers, many in Europe, would continue to build the major sections.
Northrop and EADS have a coalition, not unlike Gregoire’s, in their corner. Several Gulf Coast states formed the Aerospace Alliance last year to lobby for aerospace interests there. The Alliance has been pushing for a dual-award of the contract.
On Monday, a third coalition, dubbed Build Them Both, also began to campaign for splitting the tanker contract between Boeing and Northrop-EADS. Awarding the contract to both defense contractors will create even more jobs for people in this country and get the Air Force tankers more quickly, Carrie Giddins, spokeswoman for the group, wrote in a letter to Gregoire on Monday. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said repeatedly that he opposes splitting the contract.
Depending on the Air Force’s requirements, Northrop could drop out of the contest altogether. The Los Angeles-based company has claimed the Air Force’s initial rules favored Boeing.
But that hasn’t stopped the company from launching a major public relations campaign, with its senior executives traveling to states that stand to reap economic benefits if the Northrop-Airbus team wins. This month alone, Northrop officials have met with lawmakers in Ohio, Florida, Michigan and North Carolina.
“We’re just advising people that there’s an opportunity for thousands of jobs in their state if we win the competition,” said Randy Belote, a Northrop spokesman. “That opportunity could be taken away if the final Request for Proposal does not undergo substantive changes.”
The Los Angeles Times contributed to this report.
For more on the coalitions, go to www.ustanker2010.com; http://buildthemboth.com; www.aerospacealliance.com.
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