Airbus Aiming at U.S. Military Market

(EXCERPT) By JOHN TAGLIABUE

OULOUSE, France, Sept. 19 — Prompted by an investigation into possible
improprieties by Boeing in obtaining a military contract, Airbus is
redoubling its efforts to crack the American market for military
business, Airbus officials said this week.

The Pentagon said Wednesday that it was making a formal investigation
into accusations that an Air Force official improperly and possibly
illegally told Boeing about an Airbus bid on a contract that Boeing
was also pursuing. The official is suspected of having told Boeing
that the Airbus bid was up to $17 million a plane less than Boeing's
on a military contract worth $21 billion to lease 100 refueling tanker
planes. Boeing was awarded the contract; nine months later, the Air
Force official joined Boeing.

For several months, Airbus officials have said they are seeking an
American partner for military contracts and are willing to reconfigure
Airbus jets as military tankers, for ins...

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http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/20/bu...partner=GOOGLE

---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com