EADS North America has its eye on the Air Force’s tanker competition and more, leading it to push its political action committee to aid the European-based company’s drive for more of the American defense pie, reports the Congressional newspaper, The Hill. (Read our June 2006 article on “The European Invasion.”) The Hill’s Roxana Tiron says that the EADS North America: Americans for Competition in Aerospace PAC is in its infancy when it comes to US defense industry giants, but it is growing. The PAC has contributed to open competition senators, including Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. John Warner (R-Va.). Will it be enough to persuade diehard “buy American” lawmakers, like Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), who still has concerns over foreign ownership as well as foreign competition
The Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.