Outraged politicians from Washington state, the manufacturing home of Boeing, are demanding to know why the US Air Force selected rival Airbus for a $35 billion tanker contract which will also see the airframer assemble civil A330-200 freighters in the USA.
But the Air Force decision yesterday to opt for the Northrop Grumman-EADS KC-45A, which is based on the A330 airframe, has generated strong support from Alabama where, at a facility in Mobile, the tankers and freighters will be built.
“Preparatory work is now underway for our commitment to co-locate the final assembly of the tankers and A330 civilian freighter aircraft…creating the first new large commercial aircraft assembly facility in the USA in over 40 years,” says Airbus chief executive Tom Enders.
A330F production will add hundreds of personnel to the 1,000 staff already expected to be employed on KC-45A tanker work.
But the decision has stunned Boeing’s political supporters. Washington senator Patty Murray says: “We are shocked that the Air Force tapped a European company and its foreign workers to provide a tanker to our own American military.
“At a time when our economy is hurting, this decision to outsource our tankers is a blow to the American aerospace industry, American workers and America’s military.
“Boeing has 75 years of experience building tankers and its workers are the best in the world. We look forward to asking tough questions about how the Air Force reached this decision.”
Boeing, which had offered the rival KC-767 tanker based on the 767-200, is yet to decide on a course of action.
Washington congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers says the decision is a “surprising disappointment”, adding: “Boeing was the smart choice for taxpayers for building the tankers quickly and efficiently, right here in the USA.
“Any challenge that may follow [this decision] needs to be done quickly so that we don’t have further delay in getting these new tankers built.”
However, Alabama senator Jeff Sessions, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, describes the decision as “fantastic news” for the state, insisting that the Northrop Grumman-EADS team “won the competition on the merits of the proposal and the outstanding capabilities of the aircraft”.
He adds: “It marks a full-circle transition for Brookley Field from a mothballed air base to a world-class aircraft manufacturing centre.”
Sessions’ view is backed by senator Richard Shelby, also representing Alabama, who says the KC-45A is “by far the most superior platform”. He says the contract will bring 1,800 jobs to the Mobile area and 5,000 to the state.
While Airbus says it could not justify the expense of developing a freighter-only final assembly line at Mobile, building it as an extension of the tanker facility makes economic sense.
Customers have placed firm orders for 77 A330Fs. Lessor BOC Aviation became the latest to sign for the type with an order for five earlier this month.
EADS says it has started work on US facilities to support the tanker and freighter programmes, adding that the final assembly line will “ensure low risk, high efficiency and increased capacity for both the US Air Force and commercial Airbus customers”.
Last September the first KC-45A airframe performed its maiden flight. The US Air Force will acquire 179 KC-45A tankers, although the initial $1.5 billion contract covers four development aircraft. This contract also includes five production options for 64 aircraft, worth $10.6 billion.
General Electric CF6 engines will be fitted to the twin-jets. GE, which initially dropped out of offering a powerplant for the A330F, values the overall tanker programme – including other GE components and spares – at over $5 billion.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
