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.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.