Unconfirmed report: EADS courts Lockheed as US partner?

Are we about to witness one of the most heartbreaking\ndivorces in the aerospace industry? To be followed by a groundbreaking new engagement?

According to an unconfirmed report - I repeat: UN-CON-FIR-MED-\nfrom a French industry newsletter, EADS is reviewing radically its strategy in\nthe United States.\nSo far, EADS' presence in America\n- represented by Ralph Crosby - was based on a somewhat difficult but close\nrelationship with Northrop Grumman. But this era could be over. Disappointed by\nthe poor results of the KC-X air tanker campaign, Tom Enders is now\ncourting.... Lockheed Martin as EADS's partner of choice in the US. The\nobjective of the talks would be to create a strategic transatlantic alliance\nbetween the two giants, aimed at opening up each other's markets and rebalancing\ntheir respective portfolios. ...

 

Moreover, according to the (read my lips: unconfirmed)\nreport, EADS could let Lockheed have an industrial share in the civilian A350\nprogram, marking Lockheed's re-entry to the civil aerospace market. And\nprovided Lockheed helps market the A400M in the US alongside the C-130J, the\nAmerican giant could have better access to the semi-closed European defense\nmarket.