The United States Air Force said it had reached a deal with Boeing for the supply of E-7 Wedgetail airborne warning and control aircraft and downplayed concerns that the company’s internal crisis would harm its ability to supply the Pentagon.
The provisional deal covers the rapid production of prototypes as the Air Force phases out E-3 Sentry or AWACS airborne warning and control aircraft, and follows reports of disagreements over the price for the 737-based Wedgetail planes.
“We have reached agreement with (Boeing)… We have got a reasonable price point that we can afford,” Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall told reporters at the Royal International Air Tattoo military air show in western England.
A formal contract will be finalised in August, he added.
You have to keep competition in the game, even if they suck, or the one remaining supplier calls the price.
Don’t let airbus buy them then. People will buy their “parts” and make new companies that will compete.