With this new site touting the KC-45 / A330 airborne tanker, the previous winner of the last tanker competition and contender for the replay of the competition.
http://www.bestamericantanker.com/
http://www.bestamericantanker.com/
Airbus/Northrop-Grumman full court press
- Thread starter MikeD
- Start date
drunkenbeagle
Gang Member
When is the Air Force going to get this right? They put out an RFP for a certain sized tanker. They then choose one that is much bigger. If they wanted one the size of a 777, why didn't the RFP specify that in the first place?
jynxyjoe
Queso King
Because of politics.
KSCessnaDriver
Well-Known Member
I've seen on some other sites that people are speculating that NG/EADS may pull out of this round of bidding, due to their dislike with the RFP. Seems like to me, they know that their plane can't win the current RFP, and are trying to change the rules, much like they did last time, in order to win.
Matt13C
Well-Known Member
Why is Airbus even allowed to bid on this contract? It is taxpayer money being used to pay for these airplanes, the contract should only be open to US companies. Id even go a few steps further and say all subcontractors and their subcontracts an so on must be US companies using US workers. Just my thoughts.
I want Boeing to win, but I don't think the above would be very good for anyone.
Matt13C
Well-Known Member
I dont see why not. Even if it cost a bit more, the extra money would be going back into the US economy, creating more jobs, instead of the bulk of it going over seas, stripping our economy of money and jobs.
A-300F4-622R
Well-Known Member
Since the formation of Global Strike Command (SAC lite), the KC-45 would be tasked with refueling strategic bombers. The KC-45's FBW flight controls would be vulnerable to EMP, rendering them vulnerable until they offload their fuel to the receiving bombers.
JacksonHandy
Well-Known Member
Many major weapons systems are either built by other nations, or the license is sold to a US company and built in part here.
A small example would be the M240 and M249 families of light and medium machine guns. M240 is Fabrique Nationale design from belgium built under license in New England. M249 is based on a British design.
Personally I'd rather see more military aircraft coming from Seattle than Toulouse, but that's me. There should be some built in preference to the acquisition process for an American product, both for economic and security reasons.
Maybe it's just because I'm an airplane nerd, but I'd be all for a mix of 767 and 777 freighter designs.
Maybe it's just because I'm an airplane nerd, but I'd be all for a mix of 767 and 777 freighter designs.
Matt13C
Well-Known Member
Are US companies incapable of designing a weapon of similar design and performance? If the answer is no, not even close, then fine, buy a license and manufacture it here.
We have a 10% unemployment rate, jobs need to come from somewhere.
A-300F4-622R
Well-Known Member
v1valarob
Well-Known Member
Sorry, but I think this is ignorance.
Do you want the best option, or just the American option? And if you think no one but America profits from Boeing, your crazy.
Also the plant that was planned to retro fit these aircraft I believe is supposed to be placed in Georgia. Giving Americans jobs.
JacksonHandy
Well-Known Member
Dude,
I'm not arguing whether or not US companies are capable of designing the right weapons/systems. Nor am I saying that we shouldn't employ Americans. I'm just an end user stating fact. What I'm stating is that sometimes, the best option is a foreign option. There are more examples of this than I care to state. Do I think that's best? No, not entirely.
The MRAP I rode around in was designed and built in South Africa. We didn't come up with that idea. That said, we usually buy a license and bring the manufacturing home so that we maintain our logistics base.
JacksonHandy
Well-Known Member
Haha, for a second I was like "what?!"
That was a POS, but we didn't have anything better did we?
The M240B is a life saver, I know this. One of the toughest automatic weapons systems out there.
Good point though.
and the Harrier, Dolphin helo, C-27A Spartan, and even IAI Kfir fighters we used as aggressors for the Marines, among others.
Nothing wrong with foreign systems, if they're what meets the need best.
jynxyjoe
Queso King
I'm pretty sure the KC-45 would go through and have to pass DO-160 (what are we on, 160E now?) and mil 464 as part of validation testing would pass EMI (I think that's still the E3 division) effects including EMP. Probably still do it down at PAX river with with the trailerhouse generators and chickenwire fences.
I'd also like to point out if the FBW's are still on the same hugely heavy shielded bundles running up to the FADEC you should still pass; can't see why not, other fighters do.
swisspilot
Well-Known Member
Do you know that Boeing has plants in South Africa, Romania and Turkey??? All the parts that they are making there were built in the US before....Boeing goes where the money comes from, if it wasn't for overseas companies buying boeing ACs, the company would not even exist anymore, the same is for Airbus.