Apr 03
Tanker: EADS could reapply
EADS, Airbus's parent company, it going down into the arena against Boeing in an attempt to win a giant contract for 35 billion dollars to supply the U.S. Air Force 179 tanker aircraft? The Pentagon has declared its readiness to extend 60 days of the closing date of the new tender for all EADS decides to apply. The giant European aerospace must inform the Pentagon beginning in May If EADS contributes again, the two candidates have until July 9 to respond to the call for tenders, the Pentagon will render its verdict this fall.
This proposal of the Ministry of Defense, Boeing has missed Thursday comes in the wake of the Obama-Sarkozy meeting in Washington. The two presidents have sought to calm the sceneBarack Obama has promised that the tender would be fair, Nicolas Sarkozy told to trust the President of the United States and found that EADS should respond.
Today, there is no reason to think that the Pentagon will change the 400 evaluation criteria for the tender as Northrop Grumman, EADS ally, was considered biased and cut on able to benefit Boeing and its 767 KC B facing the Airbus A 330 KC. In early March, Northrop decided to throw in the towel and not to compete; EADS had followed.The duo had yet won the contract in 2008 but was canceled.
If the criteria do not change, why it would persist EADS? The stakes are high because Airbus is counting on this contract to settle industrial United States with an assembly plant in Alabama to become a supplier to the Pentagon and a leading market player in the military world.
Therefore EADS can withdraw without having explored all avenues. "The Pentagon is not a political stance: it has opened the door. The question is whether we can rebuild the economy of the project with new partners while meeting the criteria with the best possible price cash advance no fax.This in 60 days, "says one at EADS.
Pentagon Approval
Mission impossible? This time, the group led by Louis Welsh would hand over the project and the allocation of tasks and margins because the Pentagon has agreed to accept as a leader (prime contractor), whereas previously this function was reserved for an American, namely Northrop.
EADS believes can be because it has already proven with the tanker for the Australian Army with the first aircraft to be delivered in Canberra in late 2010. The aircraft systems through the nacelles or the boom, the refueling boom, EADS and Airbus have done everything. Clearly, they have already militarized apparatus.In the U.S., the group would appeal to American partners with specific expertise that does not hold, for example on defense electronics (transmission interconnection between the planes of the U.S. Air Force …). Groups such as BAE Systems, Honeywell or L3com provide a good profile.
As a "bonus", EADS bear more risk, but still would review its pricing policy. In contrast, no question of taking the contract loss. EADS must reach adjust its prices so that its plane, larger than that of Boeing, is competitive. The Pentagon has made it clear he wants the best device whose capabilities are at least those of an airplane that looks like two drops of water in B767 and the lowest price. The Pentagon would not refuse a bigger plane if it did not cost more. The equation is complex.For now, the prevailing consensus within EADS to study the way to the end. But nothing is yet decided.
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