US military tankers: the Commission unhappy
(BRUXELLES2) This is quite unusual for military markets. But the European Commission seems determined to intervene in a field that it considers too little open to competition. Thus, the Commission today very officially expressed its "worry in the face of yesterday's announcement of the withdrawal of Northrop Grumman / EADS from the competition organized by the American Department of Defense for the replacement of its military tankers. " It is highly regrettable that a major supplier is unable to meet a contract of this type” said European Commissioner for (External) Trade Karel de Gucht. Only open public procurement can ensure better competition and better use of taxpayers' money ».
Disclaimer. A concern expressed in very diplomatic terms but which is more like a warning. In its press release, the European Commission shows itself, in fact, “extremely concerned if it should appear that the conditions of the call for tenders were likely to hinder free competition for the contract he adds. And to clarify: The US trade defense balance with the EU has always been significantly in favor of the US”. In 2008, the United States exported 5 billion dollars but imported only 2,2 billion dollars of defense equipment, the Commission was told, "a historic ratio of double between exports and imports ". And to conclude: The Commission will follow the future development of this matter very closely.».
Dice loaded for the American tender. It should be noted that the replacement of US tankers - a fabulous market of more than 100 billion in several installments - is a long series of avatars. To replace its approximately 540 old Boeing KC-135 tankers (designed on the civil Boeing 707), the Department of Defense had passed a first call for tenders, won in 2003 by Boeing. Tender canceled in 2004 for fraud. The new tender was won in February 2008 by EADS allied with the American Northrop Grumman. " Which was a positive sign for free and open competition across the Atlantic” notes the European Commission. “It also seemed to indicate that successful bidding is possible when European industry teams work with American industry and are allowed to compete fairly.. But formal defects lead to a new cancellation and a third call for tenders for 179 planes. A contract worth around $35 billion. But the invitation to tender was drafted in such a way that the criteria indicated (size of the aircraft, consumption, etc.) led to the de facto elimination of the Airbus A330 MRTT (the KC 45) at the expense of the offers Boeing, with its modernized, smaller B 767. Basically, the dice were loaded... The American-European consortium therefore decided to throw in the towel, before the deadline, set for May 10.
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
