On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:11:53 -0000, "akjcbkJA" wrote:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7316835.stm

One wonders if the UK contract competition was open to non-EU aircraft
manufacturers.

Only 600 UK jobs are expected to be created by this EADS £13bn RAF
tanker deal.

What with EADS building tanker aircraft for both the UK and US, one
wonders if they'll consider constructing them in China. After all,
EADS did announce their intention to build airliners there over a year
ago:
http://online.wsj.com/public/article...egi onallinks
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2...ent_718481.htm

Airbus to set up China plant
By DANIEL MICHAELS, BRUCE STANLEY (WSJ)
Updated: 2006-10-27 10:11
Airbus's decision to set up an assembly line in China illustrates
the potential challenges ahead for Western jet manufacturers as
rivals from developing countries seek to enter their thriving
industry.

Airbus, a unit of Franco-German European Aeronautic Defence &
Space Co., said it had finalized plans to build an assembly plant
for its single-aisle A320 jetliners in the Chinese city of
Tianjin. Airbus in December said it was studying whether to build
an assembly plant in China. ...