AIRBUS TANKER: Boeing or Bust: Europeans Cry Foul Over a Defense Contract - by Bruce Crumley

The announcement by French aero-defense group EADS that it was pulling out of the bidding process for a $35 billion contract to supply mid-air refueling planes to the Pentagon sent shock waves across Europe this week. EADS, which was partnering in the bid with the U.S. company Northrop Grumman, based its decision on its claim that the competition had been rigged in favor of archrival Boeing — an accusation that spurred charges of unabashed American protectionism in Europe. Now, with both sides digging in their heels, what began as a trans-Atlantic flap over the refueling aircraft business is starting to sound like a full-blown trade war.

The European Commission has warned that it would react sternly to any evidence of American protectionism favoring Boeing in the Pentagon bidding process. And British Business Secretary Peter Mandelson hinted that "the open market to U.S. producers we have in Europe" could be affected if the European Union felt that Americans were refusing to extend similar freedoms to their companies in return. Even some American observers groused that the EADS offer was clearly superior to Boeing's revised bids. U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, a Republican from Alabama, said "the Air Force had a chance to deliver the most capable tanker possible to our war fighters and blew it" by meddling with the process "to produce the best outcome [for Boeing]."

Note EU-Digest: When is the EU going to wake up to the fact that for the US its always a question of "do it my way, or take the highway" ?

For more: Boeing or Bust: Europeans Cry Foul Over a Defense Contract - TIME

EU-US tanker contract spat to have 'consequences': France

Claims the Pentagon skewed bidding rules for a tanker jet contract in favor of an American manufacturer will have serious consequences for EU-US relations, a French minister said Wednesday.


"This is a serious matter," Pierre Lellouche, France's minister for Europe, told reporters after a meeting of President Nicolas Sarkozy's cabinet. "Naturally, we're talking about the arms market, so it's not a classic matter of international law and the World Trade Organisation, but we're going to respond," he said, without saying what France's response would be. "I can assure you that there will be consequences. The president will act on the matter at the appropriate time. This matter is in no way finished.

For more: SGGP English Edition- EU-US tanker contract spat to have 'consequences': France

AIRBUS: Europe sounds warning bell over US refuelling tanker deal

The European Union's executive sounded a warning over US military procurement policies on Tuesday after a part-European consortium pulled out of the running to supply the US with a new refuelling aircraft, amidst claims of American prejudice. European military giant EADS and US partner Northrop-Grumman had won a 35-billion-dollar tender in 2008 to build the next generation of aerial refuellers for the US air Force. But the award was cancelled after intensive lobbying from rival Chicago-based company Boeing. On Monday, EADS and Northrop-Grumman pulled out of the repeat bidding process, arguing that the new tender terms favoured Boeing. "The European Commission would be extremely concerned if it were to emerge that the terms of tender were such as to inhibit open competition for the contract ... (and) will be following further developments in the case very closely," a commission statement said.

For more: Europe sounds warning bell over US refuelling tanker deal : Business

AIRBUS: Pentagon launches contest for aerial tanker contract

The Pentagon on Wednesday officially launched a competition to replace its aging, aerial refueling tankers. It released the requirements needed to fulfill a contract potentially worth $35 billion.

Two aerospace giants were expected to vie for the contract to build 179 tankers -- Chicago-based Boeing Co. and a team composed of Century City-based Northrop Grumman Corp. and Airbus parent European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co. The companies have 75 days to submit bids.

In recent weeks, however, Northrop threatened to stay out of the competition, arguing that the requirements may favor Boeing.

For more: Pentagon launches contest for aerial tanker contract - Los Angeles Times

Wichita Eagle: Airbus tanker refuels two fighters at same time

Airbus tanker refueling two planes at once

For the complete report from the Wichita Eagle click on this link

An Airbus A330 tanker for the first time refueled two fighter jets simultaneously during a flight test sortie. The tanker, using its left and right under-wing pods, transferred more than 25,000 pounds of fuel to two NATO F/A-18 fighters, according to EADS, the parent company of Airbus. The refueling was done by the Royal Australian Air Force. The Australian tanker is nearly identical in configuration, EADs said, to the Northrop Grumman KC-45 Airbus tanker being offered to the U.S. Air Force to replace aerial refuelers. The tanker uses a mix of boom and pod refueling technologies.

defpro.com: First Airbus A330 prepared for conversion to UK’s FSTA Tanker fleet

Airbus A330 Strategic Tanker refueling two Eurofighters

For the complete report from defpro.com click on this link

First Airbus A330 prepared for conversion to UK’s FSTA Tanker fleet

The first Airbus A330 aircraft platform slated for the United Kingdom’s Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) program has arrived ahead of schedule to begin its conversion into a Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) at Airbus Military facilities in Madrid, Spain. The Royal Air Force (RAF) tanker uses the same basic airframe as Northrop Grumman’s KC-45, which is proposed for the U.S. Air Force’s tanker fleet modernization. EADS North America is a principal subcontractor with responsibility for delivering the KC-45 aircraft platform, which will be produced at a new aviation center of excellence to be built in Mobile, Ala. “This early delivery once again underscores EADS’ ability to provide the most capable platforms to meet the most demanding aerial refueling and airlift requirements of military services worldwide,” said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., EADS North America’s Chairman and CEO.

The United Kingdom’s FSTA program involves the acquisition of 14 A330 MRTT-based tanker/transports for the RAF. With a service entry planned for 2011, the new aircraft will progressively replace the country’s fleet of aging VC-10 and TriStar refueling aircraft.

Flightglobal: Germany launches Eurofighter refueling trials with A310 - by Craigg Hole

Eurofighter refueling from Airbus A310
For the complete report from FlightGlobal click on this link

Germany launches Eurofighter refueling trials with A310 - by Craigg Hole

ADS has conducted the first of nine planned test flights leading to the certification of the Eurofighter combat aircraft to undergo in-flight refueling from the German air force's Airbus A310 multi-role tanker transports. Conducted from EADS Military Air Systems' Manching facility near Munich in late October, the first test lasted for about 5h and employed two of Germany's instrumented production aircraft.

Herald Net: Airbus: US Tanker decision political

For the complete report from the Herald Net click on this linkAirbus: US Tanker decision political

Airbus parent European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. is disappointed by a recommendation that a $35 billion U.S. Air Force tanker contract that it won with an American partner be reopened for bidding, the company's chief executive said Wednesday. The US Government Accountability Office said it found "a number of significant errors that could have affected the outcome of what was a close competition between Boeing and Northrop Grumman." The GAO decision is not binding, but it puts heavy pressure on the Air Force to reopen the contract and could help Boeing capture part or all of the award.

Note EU-Digest: one can only hope the EU takes good note of this US Government intervention on behalf of Boeing when Boeing or US Aircraft builders try to sell their aircraft in Europe.

NYT: Britain: Royal Air Force Orders Airbus Tankers

For the complete report from the New York Times please click on this link

Britain: Royal Air Force Orders Airbus Tankers

EADS, the parent of Airbus, landed its second big government order in two months when Britain signed a $26.36 billion contract to replace the Royal Air Force’s aging fleet of midair refueling tankers. Airbus will provide the Royal Air Force with 14 A330-200 passenger aircraft converted for military use under a 27-year contract. EADS, whose full name is European Aeronautic Defense and Space, was the junior partner in a consortium headed by Northrop Grumman that was chosen over Boeing to supply the United States Air Force with 179 refueling aircraft for $35 billion.

Los Angeles Times: Northrop-Airbus team wins 40 billion aerial tanker deal - by Peter Pae

For the complete report from the Los Angeles Times click on this link

Northrop-Airbus team wins 40 billion aerial tanker deal - by Peter Pae

In a stunning upset that could reshape the nation's aerospace industry, Northrop Grumman Corp. and European partner Airbus were tapped Friday for a $40-billion Pentagon contract to build 179 aerial refueling tankers for the Air Force. Century City-based Northrop upset rival Boeing Co. in a surprising win that analysts said could alter the companies' fortunes and erode the Pentagon's long-standing policy of buying weapons systems made by U.S. companies. The award, likely to be the nation's last big Pentagon purchase for at least a decade, will have enormous economic consequences. It will create thousands of jobs around Mobile, Ala., which will become the site of a Northrop production facility, as well as in Southern California.

The Air Force decision is a blow to Boeing's prestige. The deal ultimately could be worth $100 billion.

FlightGlobal: First Australian Airbus A330 MRTT air-to-air refuelling tanker rolled out

For the complete report from Flightglobal.com click on this link

First Australian Airbus A330 MRTT air-to-air refuelling tanker rolled out

The first of five Airbus A330 multi role tanker transports (MRTT) ordered by the Royal Australian Air Force has been rolled out of the hangar at the conversion centre of EADS Casa in Getafe near Madrid.