US tanker bid war heats up with Airbus, Russia in wings: "The US Air Force tanker bidding contest against Boeing heated up Friday, with Airbus parent EADS mulling a proposal and Russia's state firm UAC gearing up for one next week.
EADS opened the door to a bid against US arch-rival Boeing for the 35-billion-dollar aerial refueling tanker contract on signs of Pentagon willingness to extend the May deadline.
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company's expressed interest in the competition, and the surprise emergence of a Russian competitor late Friday, marked new twists in the long-running saga to replace the aging Boeing fleet."
