One of the two leading contenders in the tanker replacement game—the Northrop Grumman-EADS team—would like the Air Force to reconsider requiring companies to list what government subsidies they receive when it reviews proposals for a new tanker, according to Reuters news service. However, the fact that the Air Force requested the information pleased many US lawmakers, who feel EADS has an unfair advantage over its US competitor Boeing since EADS receives subsidies from European governments.
The Air Force has picked Northrop Grumman over L3Harris and Lockheed Martin to develop and build the Stand-in Attack Weapon, meant to swiftly destroy enemy air defense sites and other high-value targets.