Posted on 03/03/2008 9:03:30 PM PST by Buddy B
JOBS at Airbus in Broughton are secure after the company scooped a £20bn deal with the U.S Air Force (USAF).
(Excerpt) Read more at iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk ...
Our government is always ready to save the jobs of foreign nationals.
Absolutely nuts that we are sending important military equipment jobs overseas. We are a few years away from getting more nutty America haters running France and Germany....they could easily find another Chirac or Schroeder.
So much for our national security
The press is making it sound like the U.S. awarded this contract to France. There are any number of reasons why that charge is complete BS. Only parts of it will be made in France. Most of the cost of each aircraft is wrapped up in what goes INTO the aircraft, not the aircraft itself and all of that is PURE Northrop Grumman product, built in America and installed on the aircraft in Mobile, Alabama. Besides, the wings and tail surfaces of Boeing’s 767 are built in Italy and China respectively. There is no longer any such thing as an “American” car or a “Japanese car”. Those days are over. If you buy a Chrysler minivan like we have, it might have been made in Canada. If you buy a Honda, it was almost certainly built in Tenessee. If you buy a Mercedes, it was probably built in Georgia. It is now a global economy and that is NOT a bad thing for us because we can compete with anyone.
It’s rather evident our leadership couldn’t care less about our national security. Saudi student visas, open borders, subsidizing R&D in foreign nations, forgoing our own R&D as it relates to space and other technologies, moving our manufacturing and other jobs offshore. Of course there’s the globalist multi-nation security agreements and trade governances that will eventually supercede our own government along with the A.U. nonsense coming into play along they way.
If you were Soviet Russia during the cold war or Iran today, you couldn’t devise a better plant to take the U.S. down. And what the hell, you could get a large segment of conservatives to vote for it, just to make sure the democrats didn’t destroy us.
Wouldn’t it be better to question why Boeing was unable to produce a better product than Northrup-Grumman?
If the Air Force believes NG produces a better aircraft that serves the need of the U.S. military than so be it. I’m all for our armed forces receiving that absolute finest aircraft, whether it be made solely in the U.S. or partially overseas.
Does Airbus get government subsidies?
I understand the sentiment angle (jobs going overseas ....although half of the production will be done here; national defense being uprooted, although a lot of facts get smudged, etc). My question, however, is on the capability angle. The Boeing offer was less capable (the airbus version can carry 20% more fuel for instance), and it was wracked with criminal acts by the protagonists. Thus, while an issue (and an important one) can be made on the job and NatDef issue, the fact still remains that Boeing got beat fair and square.
42% of the Project will be EU.
http://www.northropgrumman.com/kc30/operations/section.html
We could have almost doubled the amount of jobs for US Citizens had it been a US project.
Currently one USD = .065% of a EURO and sliding.
So much for the “ A weak dollar makes US goods a better deal”.
It’s certainly interesting how the Euro is worth $1.52 today, and yet Airbus is able to create a better product at a lower price if you’re report holds up.
Color me somewhat skeptical.
Let’s say all contracts are won by Airbus and Boeing goes out of business.
A-okay with you?
I suppose they could have awarded it to Boeing and then the plane would still be partially built overseas. Get a grip.
Shouldn’t the goal be getting the best platform to the Air Force in the shortest time at the best possible price rather than using the defense budget as a subsidy for local employment?
Similarly, as the article makes clear, the Airbus wings are made in Britain. Anybody who tries economic warfare by boycotting an unfriendly nation's manufactured products is on a hiding to nothing these days. There ain't no such thing as a 'national' manufactured product any more, at least for complex goods such as this.
LOL, sorry, over the last 16 years I’ve seen things go far enough. I’ve gotten a grip many a time while YOU FOLKS continue to act as if there’s nothing wrong at all. Perhaps it’s time for you to get a grip.
The contract was won by Northrop Grumman Corporation and if Boeing isn't able to compete, they need to work harder for it rather than expect it or demand it or manipulate it. If Boeing expects to survives on the gov gravy train alone, it's just a matter of time before they'll be pushing up daisies anyway.
Thanks for your alternative view. Take care.
BTW, I agree with your relying on government contracts comment.
“If the Air Force believes”
The Air Force beleives what they were told by the manufacturers. I for one don’t beleive the A330 will carry the loads they claim at least not for the life of the airframe. The 767 has a proven record with freighter fleets.
“better product at a lower price “
On another thread the price was quoted as $35 million more per plane.
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