Northrop Grumman/EADS Win Contract For New USAF Tanker
The folks in Mobile have plenty to celebrate this evening.
An estimated $40 billion U.S. Air Force contract was awarded to a Northrop Grumman/EADS partnership which includes 179 planes to be delivered over the next 10-15 years, with the manufacturing facilities to be located at Mobile’s Brookley Field.
Most expected the Northrop Grumman/EADS partnership to do no better than splitting a contract with Boeing, the heavy favorite for the bid, but Northrop and EADS won it outright.
“Today marks the dawn of a new era for Mobile, and I couldn’t be more proud of our city and our state than I am right now,” Rep. Jo Bonner said immediately following the announcement. “We are so very excited about having the opportunity to help the Air Force acquire the most modern and capable refueling tanker – a tanker assembled in America – by Americans.”
The project received hefty lobbying efforts from Mobile’s congressional delegation - including Bonner and Sens. Jeff Session and Richard Shelby.
“The decision by Northrop Grumman/EADS to manufacture the KC-30 in Mobile was a clear endorsement of our state’s workforce, and today’s contract award represents a huge investment in our state,” Sessions said. “The assembly of over 170 tankers in Alabama solidifies our state’s growing reputation as a national leader in defense technology. From one end of the state to the other, Alabama workers are proudly providing our men and women in uniform with the best and most advanced defense technology available. “
Tags: EADS, Jeff Sessions, Jo Bonner, KC-30, mobile, Northrop Grumman, Richard Shelby
February 29th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
[…] today’s announcement that an air tanker assembly plant will be in Mobile, Bonner could be riding a wave of popularity that would make him a viable candidate. But, Bonner […]