Why Is the US Spending $35 Billion on Air Tankers From Europe?
Boeing wanted to keep the 767 line running (they did this before with the 707/KC135,AWACS airframes with the last ones coming off the line in the mid-late 70s, I think) and had already done the design work for the failed leasing deal.
What I’ve read in the trade press, the 777 would have been comparable to the NG/EADS plane, but more expensive and not available as quickly. Plus, Boeing has plenty of orders for the 777 and didn’t want to compromise commercial sales with competing military sales for many of the same components and assembly capacity.
But basically, Boeing screwed up.
Depending on which engines are used, the NG/EADS plane may have way more than 50% of it’s value in the US from avionics, engines, and final assembly, even if 100% of the airframe comes from Airbus and European suppliers.
