When the US Air Force selected EADS to supply the military with refuelling tankers in February, one important reason given for the unexpected decision was essentially that bigger was better.
In announcing the winner of the $35bn competition to start replacing the Eisenhower fleet of in-flight refuelling tankers, General Arthur Lichte, the head of the military command responsible for tankers, put the victory for EADS and Northrop Grumman, its US partner, down to one word: “more”.
