Lawmakers Grill Air Force on Tanker Deal

[homer30]

Is not a free market after all

[cyberOwwwOecho]

The Defense Department's RFP ignores the added combat capability that could be provided to our military and, for the first time, ensures that our allies will operate with superior capability in this vital mission area. This so-called competition was not structured to produce the best outcome for our men and women in uniform; it was structured to produce the best outcome for Boeing.

[internetvideossuck]

Oh, so an American company should automatically win the contract? Boeing rips off the Air Force, remember that lease fiasco that McCain shut down? Who wants to bet that if Boeing got the contract, it would come in over budget and late? Wasn't there a dual-boom competitor that got disqualified a while back? That's the plane I want... or better yet, a 787 refueler. Yeah, I know, when pigs fly.

Military contracting is in shambles, but I believe it is improving.

[Asassine0]

Lol thats aA330 MRTT(Multi Role Tanker Transport) and no american production!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[380AMS]

American industry can and does produce great aircraft. There must be a level playing field.

Aim High! Go Air Force.

USAF SAC 380th BW / SAW vet.

Yes, on FB-111A, B-52 and KC-135A aircraft. All built in the USA.

[FanFisique]

Two points:

The 787 plane by Boeing is built in Japan and Italy and assembled in USA. Over 80% of that plane is built using foreign pieces

Boeing has the right to file a lawsuit against the US Air Force if they determine that the competition was unfair to them

But they didn't.

Boeing Cried like WHORES, and used its political influence to censure the deal and freeze it

Now the US Air Force has attended GAO pressures and has canceled the contract, settling a new concourse

BOEING SORE LOSERS

[jmkpns]

Right on, but Boeing has the support of the news media Airbus doesn't. Go figure.

[ppana]

It seems the Americans can't accept the fact that European companies produce better technology. Whatever happen to freedom of choice? Yet these are the same Boeing directors who after work drive home in their German made BMW or MB and watch their Japanese made TV. I'm currently somewhat p'off about my Australian Government still committed with this JSF-35 crap, where the RAAF said the Eurofighter is far more superiour for the protection of Australia.

[Nano022289X]

the airforce dosent know how to think right the KC-30 is the same size as a KC-10 it delivers 100,000 gallons less fuel and carriers less cargo. while boeings kc-767 caries about the same or more than the kc-135. i realy dont see the logic in this. the militairy has always stuck with boeing and some of the companies from the "US" but now it seems that the airforce trusts more Boeings rival than "their own side" man talk about irony.

[777arion]

So, what now? We have a choice of 3. 1. The 767, imho the best tanker for the job, but deal with bad management practices. 2. The EADS tanker, a much larger airframe that we don't really need, and deal with having to pay to upgrade existing runways, ramps, and hangers for the larger size (would create more jobs, but unskilled labor instead of high tech). last and worst of all #3. buy a portion a of both tankers (see choices 1 and 2 for reasons) plus the logistics of having 2 airframes. We lose!

[777arion]

The American taxpayer will lose a buttload of money on this contract and the sad thing is it is because the business practices of The Boeing Company and passed Air Force leadership. We would at this very moment in time have new tankers in the Air Force inventory. More than a dozen years back, instead of just selling the Air Force the new 767 tanker, Boeing wanted to lease them to the government. The whole deal was just eye candy for the average taxpayer, and would make money for Boeing VIPs

[maxvalley]

Daaa Daaaa itsss itssss porkey pig Dicks!

[cmatos2007]

Owned?? Well the appeal was approved in Boeing's favor so now might be another bid. The GAO report even suggests that Boeing was mistreated in the situation. Whether you like Boeing or not. Looks like they are getting another shot at it.

[Jerry19711]

LOL OWNED, with the ownage they so richly deserved!!!

[mm89f]

Amazing that only when the United states company does not win the contract all shit hits the fan. The United States Airforce looked to get a fair contract in their favor, Eurpean companies won and all shit hits the fan, so much for a free market world. hypocrite americans.

[pinoyaggie]

Hypocrite Americans? How about the Europeans, the UK tanker was awarded to EADS without any bidding at all since Rolls-Royce, Thales and Cobham are involved. Those are British companies. EADS changed their mind selling one of their factories to Spirit Aerosystems a U.S. company. So before you say Americans are hypocrites, look to your own backyard first. There is no such thing as a free market world. USA is being pawned by Bush. But guess what, he only has 6months and this sillyness will end.

[jayes12]

Boeing planes are built all over the world not just in the U.S.A. Northrop Grumman won the contract based upon superiority of product! Northrop Grumman won on 4 out of 5 criteria as determined by the Air Force. If the Air Force were to reverse this CONTRACT with Northrop Grumman, it will send a horrible message to the world about the way that America does business. We already have a bad standing in the world, according to politicians, breaching contracts will not help our standing in the world.

[maxvalley]

Hey Dick how many parts of the Boeing 767 are made in China???? YOur a Washington Boeing lackie...say god by to your congress seat, we won't forget!

[proudbelgian]

How do whe dare to make a better jet than theirs? Sorry, we had no alternative.

[vasketo3]

how is the rest of the world flying AMERICAN jets, so the usa can fly european jets too???

[Antiworld23]

We are NOT the rest of the world. WE ARE THE UNITED STATES AND WE CAN BUILD OUR OWN AIRCRAFT AND WEAPONS SYSTEMS!

[mparker1010]

This is bullcrap. First of all, the USAF flying a EUROPEAN jet? This is America.

[proudbelgian]

If this Norm Dick calls this plane a pig how should we call him ?

[pinoyaggie]

An American who does not want to pay for the pig.

[kleei2]

A Congressman from a Boeing maunfacturing district or on Boeings payroll lecturing the Air Force? blah blah

[geargemartin]

for our own national security, we need to support and maintain an american military manufacturing capability. this includes favoring domestic companies over foreign ones in all military contracts.

[puneethjoseph]

The EADS tankers carry 240,000 gallons of fuel and needs a shorter runway. And these tankers are more fuel effecient than a Boeing which carry only 190,000 gallons & needs a longer runway. Finally, everything comes down to cost. The cheap & the best always wins in this free market. Puneeth Joseph

[pinoyaggie]

The only thing you said right is the EADS tanker carries more fuel. Everything else are wrong. For the last statement, did you just said Boeing wins, because the GAO said the life cycle cost of the KC767 is a lot less than the EADS tanker so Boeing is cheaper? Best means a tanker that can refuel all the airfoce's airplanes in the inventory. Better chance of surviving an attack. Best value for the taxpayers. And fuel savings for the Airforce for 40 years of the life of the tankers. Is it EADS?

[dapple33]

Boeing is not the only aircraft manufacturer in the United States. Give the contract to a different U.S. manufacturer.

[ulrek54321]

but they don't make good tankers. or want the responsibility

[runswithscissorsalot]

boeing was arrogant in the contract negotiations. they deserved to lose. I feel sorry for the normal guys on the ground that have to suffer, but this was a fair deal. the better offer won. we should not blindly support inferior american products. besides, the offer that won will offer more american jobs, just in a different part of the country.

[ulrek54321]

i agree 100%