SINGAPORE - French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said Feb. 25 confident about Airbus' ability to compete in the global market after the European aircraft maker lost a key U.S. military contract to rival Boeing.
Lagarde, who is on a visit to Singapore, would not comment on the Pentagon's decision on Feb. 24 to award the $30 billion contract to supply aerial refueling tankers for the U.S. air force to Boeing.
"I have no comment at this stage," she told reporters.
"All I know is Airbus is a magnificent company and I have full trust and confidence in its ability to face competition and challenges of the markets," Lagarde told reporters.
A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Berlin on Feb. 25 that the Pentagon's decision was disappointing and Washington had missed a chance to deepen the transatlantic relationship.
The head of EADS, Airbus' parent company, has also said he was "disappointed and perplexed" by the decision.
Boeing is now tasked with delivering 18 aircraft by 2017, but the contract is expected to grow to 179 tankers.
The planes, effectively flying filling stations, give the U.S. air force global reach and allow Washington to project military power well beyond its borders.
The decision capped a nearly 10-year attempt by the U.S. air force to begin to replace an ageing Boeing-built fleet of 400 tankers dating from the 1950s.
Lagarde, who is on a visit to Singapore, would not comment on the Pentagon's decision on Feb. 24 to award the $30 billion contract to supply aerial refueling tankers for the U.S. air force to Boeing.
"I have no comment at this stage," she told reporters.
"All I know is Airbus is a magnificent company and I have full trust and confidence in its ability to face competition and challenges of the markets," Lagarde told reporters.
A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Berlin on Feb. 25 that the Pentagon's decision was disappointing and Washington had missed a chance to deepen the transatlantic relationship.
The head of EADS, Airbus' parent company, has also said he was "disappointed and perplexed" by the decision.
Boeing is now tasked with delivering 18 aircraft by 2017, but the contract is expected to grow to 179 tankers.
The planes, effectively flying filling stations, give the U.S. air force global reach and allow Washington to project military power well beyond its borders.
The decision capped a nearly 10-year attempt by the U.S. air force to begin to replace an ageing Boeing-built fleet of 400 tankers dating from the 1950s.
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