Today, Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement in response to the announcement that EADS will not appeal the Department of Defense's decision to award the KC-46A Aerial Refueling Tanker contract to The Boeing Company:
"This is a step forward in America's military readiness. Last week's decision to award the $35 billion tanker contract to Boeing secured a key acquisition priority for the Air Force, and today solidifies a big win for the national security needs of our nation.
"I am pleased to hear that this important contract award will not be subject to an appeal. This gives Boeing the green-light to begin delivering on building the KC-46A, creating 11,000 Washington jobs as well as 50,000 nationwide.
"The Pentagon has scrupulously applied its rules to this competition, taking into account mission effectiveness and life cycle costs, including fuel efficiency and military construction costs, when choosing the Boeing bid. I am confident that the men and women of the Boeing Company will be able to deliver a quality aircraft that meets our warfighters' requirements, and look forward to seeing the first KC-46A go into service in the years ahead.
"Our warfighters have needed this tanker replacement for almost a decade, and I am pleased to see the process coming to a close with a favorable outcome for The Boeing Company and aerospace jobs in Washington."