Takes Flight

02 Apr 2008
Retired Air Force generals back Northrop Grumman
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer writes that 22 retired Air Force generals are backing Northrop Grumman's win of the contract to build new aerial refueling tankers for the Air Force, and the paper notes the generals, in an open letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, are asking Gates to "stand up and defend" the Air Force against attacks by Boeing against the Air Force.

"In the letter, dated Monday, they accused Boeing and its "special interest clients" of "impugning the integrity of OUR Air Force" in the conduct of the tanker selection process," the newspaper reports.

The P-I also writes that the generals accuse Boeing and its apologists of "questioning the patriotism of the men and women of OUR Air Force."

According to the P-I, the letter notes that the generals "are very troubled by the vitriolic attack on the Air Force by those who disagree with the outcome of the KC-45 tanker competition."

The paper notes that the list of generals signing the letter included Michael Ryan, former Air Force chief of staff, and Charles Horner, commander of U.S. and allied aircraft during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

The P-I also reports that in a conference call with industry analysts Tuesday, Paul Meyer, vice president of Northrop's air mobility systems unit and head of its tanker program, said the company "is making sure that its message -- that the best tanker won fair and square -- does not get drowned out by Boeing's backers in Congress, especially those in the states of Washington and Kansas."

"We are making our way through them," Meyer said of members of Congress whom Northrop is lobbying.

"We are going to be very prevalent and stay focused in front of the press to make sure that facts are always on the table," the P-I reported.

As evidence of Northrop Grumman's success in getting its message out, the P-I noted that the company quickly responded when Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama suggested the contract went to a foreign company in a question-and-answer session with reporters in Pennsylvania. The P-I reported that Northrop Grumman quickly pointed out that it is an American company, and that the contract supports 48,000 jobs in America.

To read the entire Seattle Post-Intelligencer article, go to: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/357333_air02.html

What Others Are Saying:

Northrop Grumman CEO Dr. Ronald Sugar tells National Public Radio that Northrop Grumman is going on the offensive against misinformation that is being spread about the company's win.

Sugar told NPR yesterday that criticisms by Boeing and its surrogates are off-base, particularly their complaints about Northrop Grumman's partnership with the European company EADS, since Boeing's own aircraft contains foreign parts and because Boeing partners with foreign companies as well.

To hear the entire interview with NPR's Steve Inskeep, go to: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89266045

Reuters, meanwhile, is reporting that Air Force Assistant Secretary for Acquisition Sue Payton–who headed the team that decided Northrop Grumman's bid was better than Boeing's–told a House Armed Services Committee panel yesterday that "she remained confident the Air Force had conducted the selection process fairly."

To read the entire Reuters story, go to: http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSWAT00922020080402?
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