Originally Posted by
ToiletDuck
The difference is we'd have to rely on a foreign company for the aircraft. Boeing might outsource quite a bit but they still have the technology any loyalty to America. If it ever hit the fan WWIII style BA could still use that technology on American soil or give us preferential treatment when supplies are thin. Now we're second to France and who wants that?
Yes, Boeing has the technological know-how. However, if WW3 broke out and made it such that all manufacturing of war machines had to be in house, then there would still be major disruptions. Had Boeing won the contract, I think that the time required for Boeing to retool and arrange for 100% domestic suppliers and contractors wouldn't be much different than the time required for the conversion of existing 767's et al to aerial refuelers.
As for being "second to France", remember. Northrop can cut the Europeans off too.
I don't see anything wrong with this deal.