Pentagon has ordered 179 aircraft fillers for the sum of $35 billion
European concern Airbus and American company Northrop Grumman have won the tender for delivery 179 aircraft fillers for the Air Forces of the USA. Such information has been given by the US Defense Ministry.
The sum of the transaction makes 35 billion dollars. According to the terms of the contract new planes will be put to the Pentagon within the nearest 10-15 years.
This transaction is the first of three contracts in result of which Pentagon expects to replace all fleet of air tankers within 30 years (600 planes). The total sums of contracts will make about 100 billion dollars
EADS-Northrop Grumman experts plan to carry out final assembly of aviatankers at a factory in Alabama. However, the basic part of work will be carried out in the Europe.
The decision of US Defense Ministry became the real impact for American concern Boeing, the constant contractor of the Pentagon during 50 years, which also applied for this contract.
Airbus is the affiliated structure of European space and defensive concern EADS. Re-structuring, directed on increase of competitiveness in struggle with Boeing Co, is being carried out in the company now. In 2007 the volume of Airbus orders has made 1 thousand 341 air liner that became a record of concern, but it has also appeared insufficiently to bypass Boeing, which received 1 thousand 413 orders.