The Boeing Co. submitted its bid this morning to the U.S. Air Force for a $35 billion aerial refueling tanker contract.
“Boeing has more than 60 years of experience developing, manufacturing and supporting tankers for America’s warfighters, and we’re ready to build the NewGen Tanker now,” said Dennis Muilenburg, president of Boeing Defense, Space &Security.
Boeing’s main rival for the tanker contract, EADS, submitted its offer yesterday.
Boeing supporters touted the company’s experience in building tankers during a rally in Everett today.
Standing in the Machinists hall across the road from Boeing’s massive Everett factory, Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., asked “What does the other guy have? An empty field in Alabama.”
EADS plans to assemble its tanker, based on an Airbus A330, in Mobile, Ala., where it will build a factory to do so.
Boeing’s backers also talked up the 767-based tanker’s technology. The company said its tanker meets or exceeds the Air Force’s “needs for transport of fuel, cargo, passengers and patients,” Boeing’s tanker has a digital flight deck like its new 787 Dreamliner and features a KC-10 refueling boom.
Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., pointed out that the 767 tanker, which is lighter and smaller than EADS’ A330 based tanker, will save American taxpayers in the long haul.
“The Boeing plane saves fuel” to the tune of $10 billion spread out over the 40 years the tankers are expected to be in service, Dicks said.
Rep. Jay Inslee and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said they will continue to push to make the Air Force take into account illegal subsidies the World Trade Organization ruled that Airbus received to develop some of its planes, including the A330. EADS is the parent company of Airbus. The WTO is considering a similar allegation by Airbus against Boeing.
“On a level playing field, no one — and I mean no one — is going to beat you out,” Murray told the Machinists and Boeing engineers at the rally.
Boeing says its tanker will “support” 50,000 jobs in the United States.
The Air Force is expected to name a winner later this year.
“Let’s stop talking about the tanker and let’s start building it,” said Tom Wroblewski, president of the local Machinists union.
Here’s what others are saying about Boeing’s tanker bid.
POLL: Who will win the Air Force tanker contest? Boeing or EADS?
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