Alabama Senators Not Happy With New RFP
Filed under: Alabama, Boeing, Congress, EADS, KC-X, KC-X Tanker News, Northrop Grumman Corp., Syndicated Industry News
In an article in The Mobile Press Register Senators Shelby (R-AL) and Sessions (R-AL) make it clear that they are not happy with the new RFP. Shelby says “The final RFP discredits the integrity of the entire process,” and Sessions seems to feel that Northrop Grumman (NOC) won’t bid. He laments the lack of competition in the process.
This of course is not a surprising reaction as Northrop and EADS planned to assemble the basic A330 aircraft in Mobile, AL and then integrate the military systems at a Northrop facility.
Alabama And Mississippi To Unite For Aerospace Lobbying, KC-X
Filed under: Alabama, EADS, KC-X, KC-X Tanker News, Mississippi, Northrop Grumman Corp., Syndicated Industry News
The Governors of Alabama and Mississippi, Bob Riley and Haley Barbour, have launched an effort to establish a non-profit organization to lobby for aerospace in the Gulf Coast area. The two Republicans hope that Florida and Louisiana will join their efforts to “create a world-class aerospace, space and aviation corridor from Panama City, Fla., to Louisiana.” Those four state already have a great deal invested in support to NASA. The hope is that the organization will help gain more contracts and investment in the area for aerospace. Their first target is the KC-X tanker contract which will be assembled in Mobile, AL if Northrop-Grumman and EADS win.
Alabama Expresses Pessimism On KC-X
The Northrop Grumman and EADS team will build their tanker in Mobile, AL if they win the contract again. Last year when they had done so before the Boeing protest the plant was ready to go. This means that the team has the support of Alabama’s politicians and media. Senator Sessions had tried to get language inserted into a defense funding bill that might have helped Northrop but lost that vote.
Now the Mobile Press-Register has an article where the experts they interviewed question the structure of the new draft RFP and how it may be unfair to Northrop and EADS. It is certainly true that a focus on price over capability might affect the Air Force’s source selection but it may be too early to tell that. Plan on seeing more articles supporting the local favorite in Alabama media.
Congressman Murtha Makes Inefficient Recommendation for KC-X
Filed under: Alabama, Boeing, Business Line, Companies, Congress, Contract Awards, Department of Defense, EADS, Events, Federal Budget Process, GAO, Military Aviation, Northrop Grumman Corp., Protest, Restructuring, Services, Suspensions, U.S. Air Force, Washington, commercial aviation, development program, logistics, production program
Congressman Murtha, the powerful Democratic head of the House Appropriations Subcommittee for defense, was visiting Mobile, AL and made a rather stupid recommendation for the KC-X program. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that he said the Air Force should split the work between Boeing and the EADS-Northrop Grumman team. Unless the military is going to buy large numbers of a system — and 150 odd tankers does not count — the costs associated with having two training, support and parts systems are unjustifiable. The aircraft would also end up more expensive as there is less economy of scale available with small lot buys. Murtha is just trying to split the knot but the suggestion is not practical.
EADS and Northrop Grumman to start building plant in Mobile
Filed under: Boeing, Contract Awards, EADS, Northrop Grumman Corp., Protest, U.S. Air Force, commercial aviation, logistics
Northrop Grumman has announced that 28 June is the date when they will break ground with EADS on the KC-45 production facility in Mobile, AL. See an article here. The plant will conduct final assembly on the aircraft before they are moved to another Northrop-Grumman plant for militarization. EADS is also talking about using the plant for A-330 cargo freighter production. This means that despite the protest by Boeing the winners feel comfortable enough to continue work on the contract at some risk. It also might mean that even without the KC-45 contract EADS will do some work in Mobile.
The South celebrates the KC-45
Filed under: Alabama, Boeing, Contract Awards, EADS, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Northrop Grumman Corp., Protest, commercial aviation, development program, logistics
As reported here in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Northrop Grumman continues to point out that the KC-45 contract if it survives the Boeing protest will bring lots of jobs to the US. Especially to the South. Not only is the main plant going to be at Mobile, AL; but this article shows that parts and components will be made at various Northrop plants in Georgia. A lot of the work will also be accomplished in Florida. Read more
BAE may expand Michigan facility
Filed under: BAE Systems, Michigan, development program, production program
This story is about how BAE Systems possible expanded production of MRAP’s and their submission of a bid for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) contract may allow them to enlarge their Michigan facility. Right now no production is done there, but the demand for the MRAP or JLTV may lead that to be done at their Sterling Heights facility. While there has been consolidation in the US defense industry since 1990, the demands of the current budgets have made it possible for the companies to invest in physical plant to increase production and repair of key items. Read more
Jesse Jackson editorilizes in favor of Boeing for KC-X
Filed under: Boeing, Commentary, Contract Awards, EADS, U.S. Air Force, commercial aviation, logistics
In another demonstration of why moving the headquarters of their company to Chicago was a good idea, Boeing gets Jesse Jackson to publish an editorial in The Washington Times in favor of them winning the KC-X contract. See the essay here. The Air Force is supposed to announce the winner by the end of the month. Read more
Alcoa Defense Hails the Commissioning of New Aluminum Navy Littoral Combat Ship
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News
REPEAT/Alcoa Defense Hails the Commissioning of New Aluminum Navy Littoral Combat Ship
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News
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