Given the attitude and behavior of France and Germany (et al) toward the USA, why should Airbus get ANY of this business??
Personally, I'd like to see the 787 made into a tanker. The airframe has size, range and speed, so should be able to service any aircraft in the inventory. I wouldn't trust Airbus to make a paper airplane in a math class, let alone a replacement for the good old -135! From KB-29 to KB-50, to KC-97 and KC-135, Boeing has built the best aerial refueling aircraft in the world.....why should we go with some French POS?
It doesn't take a genius to design a hose to drag behind a tanker, although I've seen drogue systems that were scary, like the VC-10. As long as the Air Force has the whole male-female relationship backwards Boeing has the experience to build the boom that works and they have jet ready now.
Anyone other than a U.S. company should be considered treason.
the Army needs RPVs, not this crap
Long ago, DOD had plans to get French Roland Ground Anti-Aircraft system. Luckily, the project was canceled under the Reagan administration. I hope our country will never be invaded by French military products again. That will kill our own military industry.
Yeah, lets kick Airbus out now, thus ensuring Bopeing will feel zero pressure to produce the best-valued product.
The replies on this thread are absurd.
Only partially correct, Todd. The last production KC-135 was delivered in 1965. The last production KC-10 was delivered in 1988.
Wonder if he's as worked up over the B-52. The last of which came off the Wichita line in June of 1962.