Northrop officials rolled out the numbers Monday, saying that initially about 52 percent of its tanker competitor—the KC-30—would be built in the US. The percentage could go up to perhaps 60 percent as production unfolds. Most of the rest of the work would be done at plants in Britain, Germany, and Spain. Northrop would act as integrator, while EADS would produce the aircraft, mainly at the new facility it plans to build in Mobile, Ala.
The Pentagon wants to rapidly acquire new technology for downing hostile drones over military bases in the U.S. without endangering nearby civilians or infrastructure. However, experts maintain that engaging drones near civilian areas will always present challenges that technology alone cannot solve.