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September 5, 2008 6:17:19 PM CDT

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Airbus Was Intrepid, Boeing Arrogant on Tanker

Posted Mar 10, 08 1:20 PM CDT in Business 

(Newser) – Airbus won the Air Force's $35 billion contract for aerial refueling aircraft not only with a more competitive tanker, the New York Times reports, but by competing more aggressively. The French company, partnered with Northrup Grumman, built on spec a new plane-to-plane fuel boom and demonstrated it, while Boeing promised one but didn't build a prototype. Boeing offered an initial delivery of 19 planes by 2013, compared to Airbus’ offer of 49.

And, Air Force sources said, Boeing officials were arrogant. "The Boeing team was not responsive and often was not even polite,” says one analyst. Boeing got a briefing from the Pentagon on why it lost the contract Friday and has to decide by Wednesday whether to appeal. Critics have called the contract “outsourcing our national security,” but a Times analysis shows that it's difficult to tell which bid would support more American jobs.

Source New York Times

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Thomas Enders, Airbus Chief Executive Officer shakes hands with Alabama Gov Bob Riley following a press conference discussing the newly awarded Air Force KC-45A tanker program Friday, March 7, 2008,...   (Associated Press)
Airbus chief Executive Thomas Enders is seen during the annual press conference in Toulouse, southwestern France, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008. Airbus unexpectedly won a US Air Force contract for an aerial...   (Associated Press)
Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks with reporters during a campaign stop in Atlanta, Ga. Friday, March 7, 2008. McCain has emerged as the man Boeing supporters in Congress...   (Associated Press)
Jim McNerney, chairman, president and chief executive of Boeing Co., speaks at a news conference in Chicago, Tuesday, April 24, 2007. Boeing was caught off guard by Airbus' surprise win of a US Air Force...   (Associated Press)
This image provided by Northrop Grumman shows the first KC-45A aerial refueling tanker taking off on it's maiden flight on Sept. 25, 2007. The Air Force on Friday Feb. 29, 2008 awarded Northrop Grumman...   (Associated Press)
Specialist John Falvey, right, directs trading is shares of Northrop Grumman Corp. on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Monday March 3. 2008. Shares of Airbus' parent company surged Monday after...   (Associated Press)
Thomas Enders, Airbus Chief Executive Officer shakes hands with Alabama Gov Bob Riley following a press conference discussing the newly awarded Air Force KC-45A tanker program Friday, March 7, 2008,...   (Associated Press)
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