Quote:
Originally Posted by JA Boomer
I believe the tankers in the French Air Force are C-135FR's produced by Boeing. Is EADS contracted out to maintain the aircraft?
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Thats Correct. Well, the Flying Boom at least.
The Politicians in the US are going to have to learn one hard lesson: That the rest of the west (and many eastern countries) have long since decided that a competitive run off with the best option taking the contract is the way to go.
Awarding Boeing the contract to build an out of date airframe that it is already phasing out means that Boeing will not have learnt a thing about true competition. Irrespective of Aircraft loaded weight, the Cold hard facts are that aircraft are only getting heavier and why the military should be considered exempt from this rule is beyong many.
The net result for the Americans will mean that for the next contract Boeing will NOT take as much for granted, and invest much more time nad money into a better product than the KC767.
That benefits American Industry, Jobs & employment far more industriously than a design you were almost forced to carry on with because you were looking for some more of the same aircraft that would otherwise require the line to be shut, that you were hoping to get through on a corrupt - non competition basis.
I beleive the men and women in the USAF are better placed to know what they need than Boeing. Hopefully Boeing will provide better options next time around.