Team plans to offer Antonov tanker

Ukranian aircraft manufacturer Antonov and partner U.S. Aerospace Inc. of California plan to bid on the Air Force tanker project. Boeing and EADS are the other two bidders for the $40 billion project. Executives of the companies signed a pact July 1 spelling out the terms of a partnership. The American company will act as the prime contractor of a team that will enter up to three Antonov aircraft into contest to build up to 179 tankers for the Air Force. Bids are due July 9. (Sources: Multiple, including Mobile Press Register, Reuters, Defense News, 07/02/10) Gulf Coast note: EADS plans to assemble its tankers in Mobile, Ala.