Will EADS have an American partner for AF tanker?
Published 11:00 am Friday, September 10, 2010
EADS, the Boeing Co.’s main rival for a $35 billion tanker contract, has options for an American partner in the competition, says L-3 Communications.
Boeing and European consortium EADS are competing for a contract to replace 179 of the U.S. Air Force’s aerial refueling tankers. EADS previously had been partners with Northrop Grumman, which dropped out of the contest earlier this year saying the Air Force favored Boeing. EADS submitted a bid without a major U.S. partner, though several American aerospace companies are doing work on EADS’ tanker.
L-3 Communications, which had been a leading candidate to partner with EADS, said yesterday that it’s still open to doing business with EADS, reports Reuters.
EADS, Airbus’ parent company, had talked with L-3 in April about teaming up against Boeing. But L-3’s CEO said the conditions weren’t right.
Boeing is offering the Air Force a tanker based on its Everett-built 767 commercial jet. EADS will offer a tanker based on Airbus’ A330 and plans to assemble those in Alabama.
The Air Force has said it will announce a tanker winner in November, though there has been much speculation recently that the award date will slip. This is Air Force’s third attempt at awarding the lucrative contract.
