Louis Gallois said EADS was waiting for the conclusions of the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) “with calm and serenity”.

During a news conference near Paris yesterday, Louis Gallois said EADS was waiting for the conclusions of the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) “with calm and serenity”. Following a protest by Boeing against the $ 35Bn tanker contract award to EADS and Northrop Grumman, the GAO is expected to rule on the case on June 19. “We are convinced that we have the best product”, said Mr Gallois. Meanwhile, Mark McGraw, tanker programme manager at Boeing, said the US plane maker hoped the GAO will hold part of its arguments against the selection process, which could possibly lead to a new competition to supply refuelling tankers to the US Air Force. Mr McGraw said Boeing would then propose a different plane, in compliance with new requirements. Reuters (16/06), Le Figaro Economie, Liberation