Northrop, EADS add U.S. firms to tanker plan

Century City-based Northrop Grumman Corp. and its European partner, Airbus parent European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co., named a team of U.S. subcontractors in their bid to win a $40-billion Air Force contract for a midair refueling tanker.

Battling criticism that they’re proposing a largely European product, Northrop officials said they had completed agreements with major suppliers including General Electric Co.’s GE Aviation, Honeywell International Inc. and General Dynamics Corp.

At least 52% of the plane would be made in the U.S., Northrop said, including final assembly in Mobile, Ala.