IN SPACE - UNSPECIFIED DATE: (EDITOR'S NOTE: For utilization by the news media, Northrop Grumman Corporation and EADS North America provides a limited, nonexclusive right for use without modification or alteration for news purposes only) In this handout illustration provided by Northrop Grumman, illustrates a KC-30 Tanker (C) fueling an airplane. The Pentagon has reopened bidding on the contract for the next generation of Air Force refueling tankers, which were originally awarded to the European defense firm EADS.
IN SPACE - UNSPECIFIED DATE: (EDITOR'S NOTE: For utilization by the news media, Northrop Grumman Corporation and EADS North America provides a limited, nonexclusive right for use without modification or alteration for news purposes only) In this handout illustration provided by Northrop Grumman, illustrates a KC-30 Tanker (R) fueling an airplane. The Pentagon has reopened bidding on the contract for the next generation of Air Force refueling tankers, which were originally awarded to the European defense firm EADS.
IN SPACE - UNSPECIFIED DATE: (EDITOR'S NOTE: For utilization by the news media, Northrop Grumman Corporation and EADS North America provides a limited, nonexclusive right for use without modification or alteration for news purposes only) In this handout illustration provided by Northrop Grumman, illustrates a KC-30 Tanker (R) fueling an airplane. The Pentagon has reopened bidding on the contract for the next generation of Air Force refueling tankers, which were originally awarded to the European defense firm EADS.
IN SPACE - UNSPECIFIED DATE: (EDITOR'S NOTE: For utilization by the news media, Northrop Grumman Corporation and EADS North America provides a limited, nonexclusive right for use without modification or alteration for news purposes only) In this handout illustration provided by Northrop Grumman, illustrates a KC-30 Tanker (R) fueling an airplane. The Pentagon has reopened bidding on the contract for the next generation of Air Force refueling tankers, which were originally awarded to the European defense firm EADS.
Northrop Grumman employee Keith Stansell (C in green flight suit), a hostage returning to the United States after more than five years captivity in Colombia, arrives at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas late July 2, 2008. Stansell and two fellow defense contractors are in good health and could go home within a few days, doctors said on Thursday . Picture taken July 2.
Northrop Grumman employee Keith Stansell, a hostage returned safely to the United States after more than five years captivity in Colombia, gives a thumbs up as he arrives on at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, late July 2, 2008. Stansell and two fellow defense contractors are in good health and could go home within a few days, doctors said on Thursday. Picture taken July 2.
Northrop Grumman Corp employees Mark Gonsalves (L) and Thomas Howes step off a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III and onto U.S. soil at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, July 2, 2008. TThree U.S. defense contractors freed after five years as rebel-held hostages in Colombia are in good health and could go home within a few days, U.S. Army doctors said Thursday. Keith Stansell, Gonsalves and Howes arrived in San Antonio late Wednesday after being rescued by Colombian armed forces. Doctors on Thursday said that the men are in good health and could go home within a few days. Picture taken July 2, 2008.
Undated artist rendition provided by Northrop Grumman shows an aerial tanker with a F-22 Raptor fighter jet. Shares in EADS soared on March 3, 2008 after the European aerospace group won part of a $35 billion deal to supply 179 aerial tankers to the Pentagon in a shock defeat for U.S. rival Boeing. The U.S. Air Force announced the award late February 29, 2008 after a lengthy contest between Boeing and a European-American team led by U.S. defence contractor Northrop Grumman, which offered converted passenger jets supplied by EADS unit Airbus.
Undated artist rendition provided by Northrop Grumman shows an aerial tanker refuelling a C-17 Globemaster aircraft. Shares in EADS soared on March 3, 2008 after the European aerospace group won part of a $35 billion deal to supply 179 aerial tankers to the Pentagon in a shock defeat for U.S. rival Boeing. The U.S. Air Force announced the award late February 29, 2008 after a lengthy contest between Boeing and a European-American team led by U.S. defence contractor Northrop Grumman, which offered converted passenger jets supplied by EADS unit Airbus.
Undated artist rendition provided by Northrop Grumman shows an aerial tanker refuelling a B-2 stealth bomber. Shares in EADS soared on March 3, 2008 after the European aerospace group won part of a $35 billion deal to supply 179 aerial tankers to the Pentagon in a shock defeat for U.S. rival Boeing. The U.S. Air Force announced the award late February 29, 2008 after a lengthy contest between Boeing and a European-American team led by U.S. defence contractor Northrop Grumman, which offered converted passenger jets supplied by EADS unit Airbus.
Undated artist rendition provided by Northrop Grumman shows an aerial tanker refuelling a F-18 fighter. Shares in EADS soared on March 3, 2008 after the European aerospace group won part of a $35 billion deal to supply 179 aerial tankers to the Pentagon in a shock defeat for U.S. rival Boeing. The U.S. Air Force announced the award late February 29, 2008 after a lengthy contest between Boeing and a European-American team led by U.S. defence contractor Northrop Grumman, which offered converted passenger jets supplied by EADS unit Airbus.
Undated artist rendition provided by Northrop Grumman shows an aerial tanker refuelling an F-22 Raptor fighter jet. Shares in EADS soared on March 3, 2008 after the European aerospace group won part of a $35 billion deal to supply 179 aerial tankers to the Pentagon in a shock defeat for U.S. rival Boeing. The U.S. Air Force announced the award late February 29, 2008 after a lengthy contest between Boeing and a European-American team led by U.S. defence contractor Northrop Grumman, which offered converted passenger jets supplied by EADS unit Airbus.
Undated artist rendition provided by Northrop Grumman shows an aerial tanker refuelling an F-18 fighter. Shares in EADS soared on March 3, 2008 after the European aerospace group won part of a $35 billion deal to supply 179 aerial tankers to the Pentagon in a shock defeat for U.S. rival Boeing. The U.S. Air Force announced the award late February 29, 2008 after a lengthy contest between Boeing and a European-American team led by U.S. defence contractor Northrop Grumman, which offered converted passenger jets supplied by EADS unit Airbus.
Undated artist rendition provided by Northrop Grumman shows an aerial tanker refuelling a B-2 stealth bomber. Shares in EADS soared on March 3, 2008 after the European aerospace group won part of a $35 billion deal to supply 179 aerial tankers to the Pentagon in a shock defeat for U.S. rival Boeing. The U.S. Air Force announced the award late February 29, 2008 after a lengthy contest between Boeing and a European-American team led by U.S. defence contractor Northrop Grumman, which offered converted passenger jets supplied by EADS unit Airbus.
Specialist John Falvey, right, directs trading is shares of Northrop Grumman Corp. on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Monday March 3. 2008. Shares of Airbus' parent company surged Monday after the French planemaker snatched a $40 billion U.S. Air Force contract from its American rival, the Boeing Co. European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. and its U.S. partner, Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman, won the contract to build military refueling planes Friday, one of the biggest Pentagon contracts in decades.
In this artist's depiction provided by Northrop Grumman Corp., a KC-45A refuels a B-2 stealth bomber. The chief executive of EADS said Saturday July 12, 2008 he is confident his company and U.S. partner Northrop Grumman Corp. will win a disputed $35 billion Pentagon Air Force tanker contract when the bidding process reopens. (AP Photo/Northrop Grumman Corp.
In this artist's depiction provided by Northrop Grumman Corp., a KC-45A refuels a B-2 stealth bomber. The chief executive of EADS said Saturday July 12, 2008 he is confident his company and U.S. partner Northrop Grumman Corp. will win a disputed $35 billion Pentagon Air Force tanker contract when the bidding process reopens. (AP Photo/Northrop Grumman Corp.
In this artist's depiction provided by Northrop Grumman Corp., a KC-45A refuels a B-2 stealth bomber. Congressional investigators Wednesday June 18, 2008 have upheld Boeing's protest of a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract awarded to Northrop Grumman Corp. and Airbus parent European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., and recommended that the service hold a new competition. (AP Photo/Northrop Grumman Corp.
In this artist's depiction provided by Northrop Grumman Corp., a KC-45A refuels a B-2 stealth bomber. Congressional investigators Wednesday June 18, 2008 have upheld Boeing's protest of a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract awarded to Northrop Grumman Corp. and Airbus parent European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., and recommended that the service hold a new competition. (AP Photo/Northrop Grumman Corp.