Hope for EADS yet

Following the protests of US aircraft constructor Boeing, the US defence ministry has reissued a call for tenders for a defence contract worth 40 billion dollars which it had already awarded to European aerospace giant EADS. The German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung is nonetheless optimistic that the contract will go to Europe. "The US military's choice fuelled ... not only concerns about jobs but also aroused intense emotions and political opposition. ... Despite the political and emotional sensitivity of this issue, the deal is far from over for EADS after the decision in Washington. ... The reissuing of the call for tenders is politically awkward, not only because of potential transatlantic tensions but also because of the ongoing US presidential election campaign. ... Moreover the fleet of tankers plays a strategic role in ensuring operability for the US's armed forces. .... [But] it is the US consortium leader Northrop Grumman that supplies the components that are important from a military point of view. Therefore the argument that the move is necessary to protect national security is not very plausible."

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