Posted by George Talbot, Staff Reporter February 29, 2008 3:21 PM
Categories: Aerospace, Breaking News
Updated 3:47 p.m.
The U.S. Air Force today named Northrop Grumman Corp. and EADS North America to build its next-generation fleet of aerial refueling tankers, spurning a bid from rival Boeing Co. with a decision that could bring an aircraft assembly plant to Mobile.
The Air Force made its choice after a fierce competition between the two teams for one of the single largest defense contracts in U.S. history. Estimated at up to $40 billion, the deal includes 179 planes to be delivered over the next 10-15 years. Boeing was considered a heavy favorite due mainly to its political clout and its legacy of building aircraft for the U.S. military.
The tanker contest pitted Northrop's larger, more capable KC-30 against Boeing's smaller, more agile KC-767. Los Angeles-based Northrop plans to assemble its tankers in Mobile, creating up to 1,500 jobs in a new factory at the Brookley Field Industrial Complex. Airbus, an EADS subsidiary, has announced plans to add another 300 jobs by shifting production of a commercial air freighter to Brookley.
Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.
Click here to see a Google News Search showing how fast this story is spreading.
Click here to read Forbes article about the Mobile, AL economy.
