War of words escalates over Air Force tanker contract

Published: Mar 19, 2008
Source: www.stltoday.com



The fight for the right to build $40 billion worth of Air Force aerial refueling tankers escalated once more Tuesday.

Boeing Co. issued a 22-page summary of its complaints over losing the high-profile contract, leading with the argument that the Air Force tweaked requirements for the tanker to help Boeing's rival stay in the competition.

That rival — the team of Northrop Grumman and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. — won the job last month, and Tuesday a Northrop exec said Boeing's complaining now, instead of at the time of the changes, is "a little ridiculous."continue..