Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) and Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) and 123 other lawmakers signed a letter to President Obama last week, urging him to stand behind the US government’s long-stated argument that “European governments illegally subsidized the development of Airbus aircraft,” states the letter. In a joint statement with Dicks, Tiahrt said the current Pentagon position—essentially ignoring the World Trade Organization’s interim ruling—is “unacceptable” and Dicks agreed, adding that “it is difficult to explain how the Pentagon can ignore the obvious implications for the tanker contract.” Dicks and Tiahrt are ardent Boeing supporters in the KC-X tanker competition against the Northrop Grumman-EADS team. (EADS is parent to Airbus.) Dicks, Tiahrt, et al conclude, “When the WTO’s final ruling in this matter confirms US claims that Airbus products were illegally subsidized, we will be committed to ensuring this principle is upheld.”
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.