The European Group has three months to do

Ten years after having launched the project, the Pentagon announced late yesterday, Paris time, that Boeing had finally won the last version of giant tender on the renewal of its fleet of tanker aircraft. Retaining the aircraft manufacturer from Seattle, the army has avoided the American President to fight against all those who would not fail to brandish the map of economic patriotism, EADS had it been declared the winner.

Valued at $ 35 billion, the market is on a first tranche of 179 aircraft, but it could climb to 100 billion term. Boeing had swept the establishment in the early 2000s, but the procedure was then broken for corruption. A second attempt resulted in March 2008 on the victory of the Northrop Grumman-EADS tandem. Las, after an appeal by the loser, the Court of Auditors American struck the procedure for formal defect. The third attempt will be good EADS should meet the week next to decide - or not - to appeal. The European Group has three months to do.

For the allies to Boeing, the case is heard. Patty Murray, Democrat Senator of the State of Washington, had given the "the" Wednesday: "I can't believe that our country will take a decision for a company based abroad." "I tolerate not", had it hammered, adding that it was unimaginable losing "our aviation expertise." Same categorical refusal on the assumption - that one can imagine that EADS would be met-d-' a share of the cake between the two aircraft manufacturers.

In a more measured style, but all also clearly, General John w. Handy, head of the fleet of refuelling and transport us until 2005, had also taken a position for Boeing. "The two aircraft manufacturers produce good airplanes", he said, but, because of its weight, "Airbus is not taking off from much of small airports that we use today. The senior had not hesitate also to highlight the risk for independence that would focus the nation a foreign purchase.

Boeing allies have also at heart of highlight the decision of the WTO, which held illegal part of the State aid received by Airbus. And even if the Constable of international trade also pinned support enjoyed by Boeing and although the Pentagon has refused to take into account this aspect is of record in its decision criteria.

Many analysts however gave the winning A330 these days. As Loren Thompson, an expert recognized the sector of the Lexington Institute, a conservative Research Center: the European apparatus should prevail with a lower price and a better response to the scenarios of employment by the Pentagon, he provided the "Herald" of Seattle.

To assert their assets, the two competitors have developed in recent weeks the economic benefits of their projects. Each has provided able to create thousands of jobs (48.000 for EADS, 50,000 for Boeing), and to work hundreds of subcontractors (900 and 800 vice versa). Des figures obviously impossible to check...

What appears more realistic on the other hand, it is that, with his victory, Boeing to replace on the tanker market. At this stage, the US aircraft manufacturer is enrolled as the Italy and the Japan with its 767 militarized, sold 8 copies. For its part, Airbus has sold 28 A330. With the United States, first global military budget, as a client, the balance just change aside.