Posted on 12/17/2010 6:47:22 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Airbus Works on Final Aerial Tanker Bid, Claiming Edge on Boeing
December 17, 2010, 3:34 AM EST
By Andrea Rothman
Dec. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Airbus Military said it’s working on a final bid in the $35 billion U.S. Air Force airborne tanker contest as it seeks to trump Boeing Co. in a delayed competition that has already spanned nine years.
Airbus’s defense arm is bullish about winning the order because its A330 airliner-based model offers greater capability than Boeing’s 767, Domingo Urena Raso, the unit’s chief executive officer, said in an interview in Toulouse, France.
“Our plane is bigger, it has a cabin in which you can do medical evacuation or transport soldiers or ground crews, and it provides more fuel capacity, hence flying further and being able to refuel more fighters,” he said. “You’d otherwise need two or three different aircraft to perform the same types of mission.”
Boeing said its bid meets all mandatory requirements and that Airbus’s plane is “oversized.” The Air Force said Nov. 20 it would delay making a choice until early 2011 after mistakenly disclosing both bidders’ data on combat-mission analysis. Urena Raso declined to comment on how the proposals might be affected by the revelations, which didn’t include pricing information.
Airbus is still answering final questions about its plane, which would carry 270 troops and ground equipment in addition to fuel, Urena Raso said, and expects the Pentagon to ask for final bids shortly, ahead of an evaluation period to pick the winner.
Going Solo
The Airbus tanker was originally chosen by the U.S. Air Force over Boeing’s proposal in 2007, only
(Excerpt) Read more at businessweek.com ...
This is surreal.
I can’t believe we’re even considering EUrope for our defense needs.
Buy American.
Where do think we get most of the parts for the M1 tank and the M16 from?
Considering the size of the Defense budget, strategic common sense and current economic climate there should be a Constitution Amendment that requires every last DOD cent to be spent in America.
This is as insane as the original order of Army berets from a Chinese manufacturer.
The Airbus Tanker and it’s fueling systems have already undergone successful tests with Nato Air Forces whereas Boeings plane is still on the draft board. For everyones information, the EADS plane if succesful will be built in Alabama by non-union labor. Contrary to public perception, many of Boeings parts come from foreign suppliers.
I can’t believe we’re even considering EUrope for our defense needs.
The Airbus Tanker and it’s fueling systems have already undergone successful tests with Nato Air Forces whereas Boeings plane is still on the draft board. For everyones information, the EADS plane if succesful will be built in Alabama by non-union labor. Contrary to public perception, many of Boeings parts come from foreign suppliers.
Contrary to public persecption Boeing buys the majority of its parts from foreign suppliers. The Airbus tanker and its’ refueling sustems have already been successfully flight tested wit European and Asian Air Forces. The Boeing plane is still on a blue print. The Boeing plane would be asembled in Everett WA by Union workers and subject to work stopages. The Airbus plane would be asembled in Mobile AL (Which the last time I checked was in the U.S.) by non-union workers.
what are the bribery specs?
dollar? euros? or barrels of oil?
I think the Air Force should split the order. Splitting the order will increase the flexibility (large and small tankers). I do not see much advantage for the Airbus troop capacity. I cannot see many situations in which troop transport will be a mission of a tanker.
This is surreal.
I can’t believe we’re even considering EUrope for our defense needs.
Buy American.
Absolutely suicidal in regards to national security. Europe, as a whole, is not the threat that the Communist Chinese or Russians are. At least until the Islamic Extremists start taking over Europe
Votes in Illinois, Kansas, and Washington state
FYI: Appproximately 2,000 Alabamians will be hired to build this plane - and yes, contrary to what politicians in DC and Washington state are saying, we are Americans and Alabama IS one of the 50 states.
Using an Airbus ‘green’ aircraft, it would be assembled in Europe and then flown to AL for modifications.
The Boeing 767 with Pratt engines is a far superior aircraft. I pray we make the correct decision on this one.
Airbus got its name ‘Scarebus’ for a reason... recycled junk that won’t last 50 years.
The Boeing is far superior
Boeing products are more reliable and less costly to maintain.
You probably do not know what this man´s name means?
Domingo Urena Raso - “Domingo” is for Sunday - “Urena” is for he who pee - “Raso” means little.
Such a suggestive name ain´t it?
Don't try to bring logic and reason into this discussion on FR. You could slap a Boeing sticker on an Ilyushin Il-78 and they'd still be cheerleading for the "American" one to win.
These days Boeing resembles a bloated state-owned corporation reminiscent of those existing in the socialist bloc. What makes things potentially worse is that it’s domestic defense market (US military) is much larger than what Airbus can hope to achieve in Europe.
“You could slap a Boeing sticker on an Ilyushin Il-78 and they’d still be cheerleading for the “American” one to win.”
Maybe EADS should rename their US business unit to AADS and paint a big flag on it.
American Aeronautic Defence and Space
1616 North Ft. Myer Drive
Suite 1600
Arlington, VA 22209
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