User 170259

Boeing Cleared for Takeoff

Some lawmakers had vowed to ban the Pentagon from doing business with a company involved in the WTO case,effectively eliminating Northrop, as Airbus was at the center of the trade dispute.Finally Northrop threatened to withdraw its bid if they didn't include a way to score the tankers divergent capabilities above & beyond the min.requirements of carrying 50 troops & 6 cargo pallets

Boeing Cleared for Takeoff

Secondly Northrop made sure there would be no language in the Air Force competition documents that would hinder their bid & undermine fair competition.Among the issues deleted was language that would have asked the competitors if government subsidies would help pay for the design & development of the tanker,part of a lingering trade dispute between the U.S. & the European Union.

Boeing Cleared for Takeoff

An article in the L.A.Times 10th March,basically told how Northrop had the criteria changed to favor the A330.They convinced the Air Force that the tankers could also be used to carry cargo & troops,a requirment the Air Force originally balked at but eventually was persuaded to add.These new requirements would be critical in the evaluationTheA330could...