Boeing Stunned, Angry Over Bid

Mobile, Ala. rep thrilled over promised tanker facility

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 1, 2008 7:08 PM CST

Copied

Boeing Stunned, Angry Over Bid — In this artist's depiction provided by Northrop Grumman Corp., a KC-45A refuels a F-22 Raptor. The Air Force on Friday, Feb. 29, 2008, awarded Northrop Grumman Corp. and a European partner a $35 billion contract to build airborne refueling planes, delivering a major blow to Boeing Co.(AP Photo/Northrop... (Associated Press)

From lawmakers to Boeing workers, Washington state is outraged today that the Air Force handed a $35 billion contract to foreign firm Airbus and Northrop Grumman, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. One worker called it "a sad day for Boeing," and a senior senator blasted the Air Force for planning to "put an American sticker on a plane and call it American." Boeing and lawmakers are each considering formal complaints.

But no complaints are coming from Mobile, Ala., where Northrop Grumman and Airbus have promised to build a new facility to transform its jets into tankers. "Oh my gosh, I mean, joy, elation, surprise, excitement," said a spokeswoman from Mobile's chamber of commerce. “The news just keeps getting better; you almost have to pinch yourself." (Read more Boeing stories.)