| B.A.E. Systems and the company have signed a | | | | signed the budget law in November that |
| collaboration agreement for the design, | | | | finally authorized the deal. The dismissals |
| development, supply, and support of | | | | of chief financial officer and former air |
| air-to-air refueling tanker aircraft based on | | | | force acquisition chief in November also |
| the Boeing 767 aircraft platform, helping to | | | | triggered calls for a wider review of the |
| secure significant numbers of high-value jobs | | | | service's procurement decisions. |
| and skills in the UK. | | | | |
| | | | The company says they were fired for talking |
| The Memorandum of Understanding applies to | | | | to someone about future employment while he/ |
| the current UK programmer for the future | | | | she was still the air force's top acquisition |
| provision of replacement tanker aircraft, as | | | | official and the Pentagon's representative in |
| well as existing programmers in the United | | | | contract talks for the tanker deal. They have |
| States, Japan, and Italy. The M.O.U. also | | | | denied this and Boeing's claim that he tried |
| applies to all future programmers globally | | | | to cover up his actions. |
| and potential growth into other large | | | | |
| platforms. Both Bae Systems and the company | | | | The question of whether they improperly |
| are part of TTSC, the Tanker Team. | | | | tipped off the company on Airbus pricing |
| | | | data, meanwhile, remains the target of a |
| The Chief Executive, Bae Systems said, | | | | criminal investigation by the Pentagon's |
| "The bid put forward by TTSC will | | | | inspector general. Those allegations stemmed |
| deliver the best capability for the UK | | | | from internal emails obtained and released in |
| forces, in terms of interoperability and | | | | late August by a Senator, an ardent opponent |
| flexibility of usage in concert with the US, | | | | of the deal. |
| as well as securing jobs, skills, and work | | | | |
| for many years to come." | | | | The company says there are no links between |
| | | | the misconduct charges and the tanker |
| "The global market has already | | | | negotiations. The review, however, means a |
| overwhelmingly made its decision with the | | | | fresh round of scrutiny that may still |
| company 767 having been selected by the | | | | imperil the project. |
| United States, Japan and Italy. This is why | | | | |
| B.A.E. Systems decided to team with the | | | | Says The US Secretary of Defense: "We |
| company to the benefit of the UK's defense | | | | have just read that two people have been |
| industrial base. Today's M.O.U. will | | | | relieved of their responsibilities by a |
| therefore deliver very long term substantial | | | | company that we had engaged in an |
| benefits if the UK now selects the Boeing | | | | understanding with, and that it struck me, at |
| aircraft." | | | | least, that responsible people would want to |
| | | | say to themselves: "Well, what might |
| The President and CEO of the company | | | | that mean for the department? Did something |
| Integrated Defense Systems commented: "A | | | | happen?" |
| significant market for tankers exists | | | | |
| world-wide. We are excited about making | | | | A spokesman for the anti-tanker lease |
| Britain's aerospace industry part of our | | | | Taxpayers for Common Sense admits that the |
| global tanker team. Today's announcement is | | | | potential effects of the new review are |
| firm evidence of Boeing's commitment to the | | | | unclear, but the misconduct charges alone |
| UK and support of high value engineering | | | | should at least "deter any new |
| jobs, as well as the companies close working | | | | gerrymandering or shenanigans" on the |
| relationship with BAE Systems." | | | | deal. |
| | | | |
| US Secretary of Defense is blocking a | | | | The charges also may cast a new light on |
| lease-buy deal for 100 Boeing tankers while | | | | their 10-year tenure as the air force's top |
| he examines the circumstances surrounding | | | | acquisition official. They had gained a |
| misconduct charges that prompted Boeing last | | | | reputation as a prickly combatant of defense |
| week to fire two executives, including one | | | | contractors, more than once publicly calling |
| close to the deal. | | | | out a contractor's misdeeds. But they also |
| | | | supported two controversial proposals that |
| The review is the latest crisis to challenge | | | | offered big rewards for the company - the |
| the legitimacy of the US Air Force's | | | | tanker lease and a defeated attempt in 2000 |
| two-year-old attempt to acquire the KC-767 | | | | to label the C-17 as a commercial item. |
| tanker fleet, and came just as The President | | | | |