Boeing has to tread carefully as it bids a European helicopter for White House lift requirement
Av Week ShowNews July 20
When it comes to tankers, Boeing is pretty clear that the European aircraft on offer to the U.S. are awful – inferior, subsidized products that will destroy American jobs and hurt the military. When it comes to Presidential helicopters though, Boeing is clear that the European aircraft on offer are by far the best products and any military, let alone any President, would be delighted to fly in them.
With its vituperative anti-Airbus rhetoric, has Boeing dug a hole for itself when it comes to bidding Anglo-Italian AgustaWestland AW101 for the U.S. Navy’s re-launched VXX “Marine 1” Presidential Helicopter competition?
After all, the AW101 was described by its competitors as a helicopter built by “socialists” in the last VXX bidding round (when the AW101 triumphed, you’ll recall) and is a program that has certainly been in receipt of subsidies (for the commercial version).
“There is no contradiction between the tanker and the helicopter programs,” Dennis Mullenberg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security, confidently tells Show News. “It’s true we’ve emphasized the need for a fair and level playing field for KC-X, but our proposed approach for the Presidential Helicopter will generate significantly more U.S. jobs than our competitors.
“The helicopter is different because it will be built in the U.S. by U.S. workers – is not an approach where the helicopter is built elsewhere, like last time.
Plus the military 101 never got launch aid. So we think it is very consistent with what we’ve said about the tanker.”
It will also be interesting to watch AgustaWestland’s previous program partner tie itself in knots as it seeks to dismiss the same aircraft that it selected for – and won – the original VXX/VH-71 competition. This time around Lockheed Martin is partnered with VXX loser Sikorsky.