BATH, England, July 16 (UPI) -- The competition to supply the U.S. Air Force with air-refueling tankers has become more intense in recent days, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported.
The Air Force wants 189 tankers instead of the initial buy of 100. The increase could mean substantially more work, creating many more jobs for The Boeing Co.'s Everett, Wash., plant should the company win the competition, the newspaper said.
Ralph Crosby, chairman and chief executive of EADS North America, disclosed the higher figure on Saturday. EADS North America is teamed up with Northrop Grumman in the competition for tankers.
Crosby's announcement came during a series of media briefings held by various EADS executives in Bath, England, before the Farnborough Air Show. The event -- the biggest of the year for the aerospace industry -- was scheduled to open Monday near London.
