A recent story in Aviation Week details the competition between Boeing and a team of Northrop Grumman and Airbus for a multi-billion dollar contract to supply the Air Force with its next-generation fuel tanker. The competition is intense, so we’re surprised that the issue has remained “under the radar” for so long.
There is very little doubt that Boeing deserves—and has earned—our support in this matter. Boeing plays a vital roll in the St. Louis economy, providing good, high-paying jobs, and what’s good for the company is ultimately good for Missouri. And their history as an Air Force supplier and reputation for quality should give them the advantage.
But the selection of Boeing is imperative for much more important reasons, namely American national security. Airbus is a French company, and it has admitted that most of the plane will be supplied by and built outside of the U.S, while Boeing will use American parts and American labor.
Given the instability in the world and the unpredictability of many of America’s “allies,” we cannot afford to risk outsourcing the construction the equipment that keeps our soldiers—and ultimately our nation—safe. This is one situation in which “Buy American” cannot be ignored.
