Courtney statement on EADS decision to not protest Air Force's tanker decision

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney today released the following statement after Airbus parent European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co. (EADS) announced that it will not protest the Air Force’s decision to award Boeing with a $35 billion contract to build 179 new refueling tankers:

“Today’s announcement ends the final chapter of a decade-long saga. With EADS’s announcement, we can move forward confident that American manufacturing and American workers will provide the Air Force with the next generation of tanker. The Air Force’s decision is a victory for our region’s workforce, Connecticut’s industrial base and the American taxpayer. With all uncertainty behind them, the men and women of Pratt & Whitney can begin again the work that has earned them a reputation for producing high-quality, cost-effective results.”

Congressman Courtney is Connecticut’s sole representative on the House Armed Services Committee, which has oversight over Department of Defense procurement programs like the KC-X tanker replacement.