Boeing Tanker: Beans, Bullets, Oil, and politics .. and did we mention: politics ??

[Morgan81]

Is an Airbus A330, licensed out to Northrop Grumman.
As a complete outsider I'd have to say I'm surprised due to Boeing's history of tankers and the almost deal of the KC-767, but I'd love to hear the opinions of those in the know here.

 

[Recovering LSO]

Unbelievable - Boeing loses AF Tanker

Apologies up front is this is not the appropriate 'room' to post this question.

Just read that the AF announced its selection of the Northrop Grumman / Airbus 330 KC-45 as its strat tanker of choice. Does anyone know if its going to have hoses (MPRS) or is it just a newer fancier "Iron Maiden"? Couldn't tell from the pictures.

 

[A4sForever]

Unbelievable - Boeing loses AF Tanker

Unbelievable - it says Northrop Grumman, but it's really AirBus who scores at the end of the day. The quaint slogan "BUY AMERICAN" must be dead.

Northrop Grumman stunner: $35 BLN tanker contract awarded

 

[HeyJoe]

Is an Airbus A330, licensed out to Northrop Grumman.
As a complete outsider I'd have to say I'm surprised due to Boeing's history of tankers and the almost deal of the KC-767, but I'd love to hear the opinions of those in the know here.

It wasn't quite Boeing's to lose. The earlier missteps gave the NGC team a shot at the prize if they came in compliant and at lower cost.

 

[DSL1990]

Unbelievable - it says Northrop Grumman, but it's really AirBus who scores at the end of the day. The quaint slogan "BUY AMERICAN" must be dead.

Northrop Grumman stunner: $35 BLN tanker contract awarded

mobile, alabama is america!

 

[A4sForever]

mobile, alabama is america!

Ridiculous. That's like saying a VW or Toyota built in America is an "American" product. I see you've drunk the Kool-Aid. Total pap, soft food for infants ....

Welcome to YOUR global market.

 

[A4sForever]

...The earlier missteps gave the NGC team a shot...

Baloney. Explain why the misdeeds of the few should cost Boeing and it's employees (and the American military) a quality American product. One that's light years ahead in development compared to it's Airbus competition.

Can anyone say Airbus 380, for example??? And example of current Airbus R&D???

It is a complete pile of overpriced, will never pay for itself, narcissistic crap when compared to Boeing 747-anything.

 

[DSL1990]

Ridiculous. That's like saying a VW or Toyota built in America is an "American" product. I see you've drunk the Kool-Aid. Total pap, soft food for infants ....

Welcome to YOUR global market.

until about a year ago, chrysler was owned by some german company (i forgot which one now)- does that mean if you bought a chrysler car, you would not have been buying american? i bet that so many of the products you buy in the store are actually made by companies which are actually owned by other foreign companies.

 

[A4sForever]

until about a year ago, chrysler was owned by some german company (i forgot which one now)....

Uhhhh ... it was called Daimler-Benz. As in Mercedes???

You're still ridiculous if you think this is a victory for American industry. But then ... you ARE in high school and have a way to go .... let us hope you make it.

 

[DocT]

It's going to put food on the table in an estimated 1100 American homes in Mobile. I can't say that's a total loss.

 

[A4sForever]

It's going to put food on the table in an estimated 1100 American homes in Mobile. I can't say that's a total loss.

You think it's a zero sum game??? Some of you guys ... I don't know what your thought processes are ...

How about the end of the 767 line @ Boeing as a result of the decision?? How many American homes will that "put food on the table" for ... ???

 

[DSL1990]

You think it's a zero sum game??? Some of you guys ... I don't know what your thought processes are ...

How about the end of the 767 line @ Boeing as a result of the decision?? How many American homes will that "put food on the table" for ... ???

well, it's a tradeoff- you're right that america would probably have benefited a lot lot more from boeing winning the contract. i was just trying to say that this doesn't seem like a total loss since a lot of the money will still be spent here, except for the profits.

it's really sad though- boeings are my favorite airliners.

 

[CWJones411]

 

[HeyJoe]

Baloney. Explain why the misdeeds of the few should cost Boeing and it's employees (and the American military) a quality American product. One that's light years ahead in development compared to it's Airbus competition.

Can anyone say Airbus 380, for example??? And example of current Airbus R&D???

It is a complete pile of overpriced, will never pay for itself, narcissistic crap when compared to Boeing 747-anything.

Not saying that at all. Baloney = overreaction. When the few were top acquisition counterparts at Boeing and in USAF and billions were at stake, it simply opened door for NGC to compete (ie gave them a shot at competing when Boeing stumbled). How many times do you think Boeing should get to play fair? If those employees lose or lost anything, they should look to those few who knew full well what they were doing. Everyone in this business sits through regular Ethics training and the whole process has built in reminders of what is kosher and what is not.

I'm willing to bet the bids were squeakly clean because of all the scrutiny. Government is obligated to debrief Boeing and it will come out what the source selection team used to determine the winner.

 

[DocT]

My thought process is that somebody in Mobile will have a job who didn't previously have one, or hopefully has a better one. Again, not a TOTAL loss, as in being produced OCONUS. The commment wasn't going any deeper than that.