Boeing warned against any change in the bidding rules that could favour EADS in the competition to supply tankers to the US Air Force.

Boeing warned against any change in the bidding rules that could favour EADS in the competition to supply tankers to the US Air Force. At the Farnborough Air Show, Dave Bowman, newly appointed vice-president of Boeing Tanker Programmes, said

Louis Gallois yesterday saluted the Pentagon’s decision to restart competition for the $ 35Bn contract to supply air refuelling tankers to the US Air Force

Louis Gallois yesterday saluted the Pentagon’s decision to restart competition for the $ 35Bn contract to supply air refuelling tankers to the US Air Force. He said EADS committed to supporting its partner Northrop Grumman’s efforts to answer the client’s needs. This decision is a blow at Airbus and the US Air Force, comments Aujourd’hui en France.

After four months of debates, the Pentagon announced yesterday that the bidding process for the US Air Force refuelling tankers would be reopened

After four months of debates, the Pentagon announced yesterday that the bidding process for the US Air Force refuelling tankers would be reopened. The final verdict on this $ 35Bn contract is now expected by the end of 2008, as the new competition will be “accelerated”, said Defence Secretary Robert Gates. Indeed, the selection process will not be overseen by the US Air Force anymore, but by the Pentagon’s chief weapons buyer, John Young. The KC-45, offered by EADS and Northrop Grumman, had been judged more efficient and less costly than Boeing’s KC-767 in the first round of bidding. In the meantime, Boeing has not stopped defending its proposal,

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates may announce his new strategy for the acquisition of aerial refuelling tankers “very soon”

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates may announce his new strategy for the acquisition of aerial refuelling tankers “very soon”, said DoD spokesman Bryan Whitman yesterday. He added that Mr Gates has been “doing some consulting” with experts and “giving his own analysis” of the Pentagon’s options. Bloomberg (03/07)

The US Air Force said yesterday that it had not asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to reconsider its ruling on the tanker contract

The US Air Force said yesterday that it had not asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to reconsider its ruling on the tanker contract. According to defence analyst Jim McAleese,

EADS saw its share price stumble by 7.74% last week, to €12.16

As its win of a multibillion-dollar tanker contract in the US is called into question, EADS saw its share price stumble by 7.74% last week, to €12.16. This latest bad news has actually added up to the A400M

he tanker debate goes on in the US

The tanker debate goes on in the US. The Pentagon denied over the weekend that the bid submitted by Northrop Grumman and EADS might benefit from European government subsidies.

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report explaining its decision last week to uphold Boeing’s protest of the USAF tanker contract

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report explaining its decision last week to uphold Boeing’s protest of the USAF tanker contract. In this report, the GAO’s auditors claim

EADS’s “Americanisation” will probably be delayed by the GAO’s ruling over the US Air Force tanker contract.

EADS’s “Americanisation” will probably be delayed by the GAO’s ruling over the US Air Force tanker contract. Analysts expect a second round of bidding for the US Air Force contract to be more favourable

EADS and Boeing are now waiting for the US Air Force to make a decision about the multibillion tanker contract

EADS and Boeing are now waiting for the US Air Force to make a decision about the multibillion tanker contract. The international press largely comments the US Government Accountability Office (GAO)’s ruling which will probably force the Air Force to reopen a competition for refuelling tankers. This outcome is a further blow at EADS who faces an accumulation of concerns and “turbulences”, says Les Echos. Though the game is not lost yet, adds the daily, it should be long and difficult. “Boeing will propose such a competitive solution that it will leave no chance to EADS”, estimate Exane analysts. Beyond the tanker contract,

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) supported Boeing’s protest of the tanker contract award to Northrop Grumman and EADS.

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) supported Boeing’s protest of the tanker contract award to Northrop Grumman and EADS. “Our investigation has led us to the conclusion that the US Air Force made a significant number of mistakes that could have wronged the outcome of the competition between Boeing and Northrop Grumman”, announced the GAO in a statement yesterday. The ruling is only a recommendation, however, and it is now up to the Pentagon to decide –within 60 dayswhether it reissues a bid call or not.

The Pentagon reiterated that the acquisition of new tankers was the US Air Force’s priority and a new delay in the fleet renewal programme would be a “genuine problem”.

The Pentagon reiterated that the acquisition of new tankers was the US Air Force’s priority and a new delay in the fleet renewal programme would be a “genuine problem”. The GAO is expected to issue its conclusions on the validity of the contract award to EADS and Northrop tomorrow. Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell reasserted that the selection process had been “transparent and fair, and provides the best aircraft to our forces, at the best cost for taxpayers”. Northrop Grumman spokesman Randy Belote added in a statement that “Boeing had the right to protest, but this once again delayed the programme by three months”.

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”.

EADS said on Friday it was not “particularly worried” after its partner Northrop Grumman acknowledged minor errors in the US tanker contract award process

EADS said on Friday it was not “particularly worried” after its partner Northrop Grumman acknowledged minor errors in the US tanker contract award process. “As far as we are concerned,

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) is expected to rule on Boeing’s protest of the multibillion tanker contract

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) is expected to rule on Boeing’s protest of the multibillion tanker contract awarded to Northrop Grumman and EADS on June 19.