Air Force Sends $35 Billion Contract Overseas
Mar 2nd, 2008 by Shaun Carter
In one of the most hypocritical moves of the year thus far, the Air Force has contracted with a European company to build refueling tankers for a price of about $35 Billion. I say hypocritical because of the Federal government voting in a stimulus package and warning of an economic slowdown or recession… but then they send a ton of work out of the country and into Europe. Had Chicago-based Boeing won the contract they would be employing American workers and keeping the money stateside to help the economic recovery.
Another irony is that the EADS planes that the Air Force will be receiving cost about $35 million more a piece than their Boeing counterparts… but there are certain features the Air Force prefers in the European plane.
Some of the final assembly will be performed here in the United States and will produce about 2,000 jobs in Mobile Alabama and increase the work available for parts suppliers nationwide, but still a good majority of the work will be performed in Europe and any profits from the deal will be paid to shareholders of the company - most likely residents of Europe.
Technorati Tags: eads, northrop grumman, boeing, air force, shaun carter, refueling tankers, mobile, alabama, military
