By Marina Malenic
The European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co. (EADS) yesterday received a debriefing from the Defense Department after last week losing out to Boeing [BA] on a coveted $30 billion-plus aircraft contract.
EADS has 10 days following the meeting to launch a protest in the decision to award the aerial refueling tanker contract to its rival. The company did not rule out the possibility following yesterday’s meeting.
“The EADS North America team has met with the Air Force, received a debriefing and is evaluating the information presented to us,” EADS spokesman Guy Hicks said via e-mail.
“Our objective has always been that the U.S. warfighter receive the most capable tanker, following a fair and transparent competition,” he added. “That remains our position today.”
Boeing last week attributed its victory in the long-running competition to its ability to deliver a low-risk solution at an affordable price. Dennis Muilenburg, chief of Boeing’s Defense, Space and Security unit, told reporters that life-cycle costs and the efficiency of Boeing’s smaller, 767-based aircraft tipped the scales in the company’s favor (Defense Daily, Feb. 28).
EADS had pitched a larger, A330-based solution to the Air Force.
The new aircraft to be built by Boeing will be designated the KC-46A, according to Air Force officials. The firm fixed-price contract awarded last week and valued at over $3.5 billion is for delivery of 18 aircraft by 2017. The overall program for 179 tankers is valued at upward of $30 billion, officials have said.
In the Air Force’s prior attempt to replace its Eisenhower-era tankers, Boeing successfully protested a previous win by Airbus parent company EADS and then-partner Northrop Grumman [NOC].
Air Force officials said earlier this month that they have prepared for a protest from the losing bidder (Defense Daily, Feb. 22).
Boeing also met with Pentagon officials yesterday.
We were debriefed by the U.S. Air Force…on their award of the… contract to our company,” said company spokesman Bill Barksdale. “While we won’t comment on specific details from that session, it was clear the Air Force and Defense Department worked hard to ensure fairness throughout a lengthy and rigorous proposal process.”