EADS says no decision yet on U.S. tanker bid

Defense News: PARIS (Reuters) - The chief executive of Airbus parent EADS (Paris:EAD.PA - News) said on Monday the European group had not yet decided whether to challenge Boeing (NYSE:BA - News) for a deal worth up to $50 billion to sell aerial tankers to the United States.

Trade visitors visit the EADS display area at the Singapore Airshow February 2, 2010. REUTERS/Tim Chong

Louis Gallois told LCI Television in an interview to be broadcast later on Monday that any bid would be at a reasonable price and he ruled out going ahead with a loss-making proposal merely in order to pull off a strategic coup.

Gallois also said EADS was seeking a U.S. partner to handle sensitive electronics work and confirmed talks with L-3 Communications (NYSE:LLL - News) and Raytheon (NYSEArca:RTR - News) as well as others.

A tape of his remarks was made available ahead of their scheduled transmission in France at 1820 GMT.

EADS is mulling whether to take the lead on a new bid afterNorthrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC - News), its lead partner on an earlier successful bid which was overturned on an appeal fromBoeing, decided to quit the race to re-equip the U.S. tanker fleet.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by James Regan)