Political support grows for Northrop-EADS tanker
Published 7:59 am Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Northrop Grumman and EADS got a boost of support for their Air Force tanker offering Monday.
The Aerospace Alliance rounded up 500 supporters at a rally for Northrop and EADS, reports the Mississippi Press. The newly formed group has the backing of the governors of Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
Northrop and EADS would build their tanker in Mobile, Ala., should the Air Force award its roughly $35 billion contract to the duo. The Boeing Co. is also competing for the lucrative deal. Its tanker would be built here in Everett, with some finishing work likely being done in Wichita, Kan.
“One might suspect that someone has made a political calculation that it is a lot easier to say ‘no’ to Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida, because it’s too hard to say ‘no’ to Kansas and Washington state,” said Sam Adcock, senior vice president, government relations, with EADS, according to the Mississippi Press report.
Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby will speak later today about some of the “flaws” that he has identified with the Air Force’s draft requirements for replacing its aging fleet of KC-135 tankers. In a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Shelby said the contest — the Air Force’s third try — already favors one competitor.
