The Northrop Grumman and EADS team will build their tanker in Mobile, AL if they win the contract again. Last year when they had done so before the Boeing protest the plant was ready to go. This means that the team has the support of Alabama’s politicians and media. Senator Sessions had tried to get language inserted into a defense funding bill that might have helped Northrop but lost that vote.

Now the Mobile Press-Register has an article where the experts they interviewed question the structure of the new draft RFP and how it may be unfair to Northrop and EADS. It is certainly true that a focus on price over capability might affect the Air Force’s source selection but it may be too early to tell that. Plan on seeing more articles supporting the local favorite in Alabama media.

The EADS facility in Mobile, AL was renamed the Airbus Military North America facility from EADS CASA North America. This plant will be used to assemble the A330 tankers that will be militarized by Northrop Grumman if that team wins the KC-X contract again. The plan to use an empty factory has gained the company a great deal of support from Alabama politicians.