One of the two leading contenders in the tanker replacement game—the Northrop Grumman-EADS team—would like the Air Force to reconsider requiring companies to list what government subsidies they receive when it reviews proposals for a new tanker, according to Reuters news service. However, the fact that the Air Force requested the information pleased many US lawmakers, who feel EADS has an unfair advantage over its US competitor Boeing since EADS receives subsidies from European governments.
Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held meetings with defense leaders from the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea during a trip to the Indo-Pacific this week.