EADS chief OK with split tanker buy

The chief executive of EADS, Louis Gallois, said his company and partner Northrop Grumman would probably bid on a $35 billion tankers project even if the Pentagon decided to buy from his company and Boeing. His condition is his company would have to be able to build at least 12 planes a year to justify the cost of the Gulf Coast. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates opposes a split buy, but there’s a move underway in Congress to buy from both aerospace giants. (Source: New York Times, 04/16/09) Gulf Coast note: EADS NA plans to assemble the planes in Mobile, Ala., at Brookley Industrial Complex. Northrop Grumman also plans to build a plant next to EADS should the team win the contract. EADS has also indicated it will build cargo planes at the facility.