EADS to Take On Boeing for Air Force Tanker

European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co. will bid as the lead contractor in a $35 billion contest to provide the U.S. Air Force with aerial refueling tankers in a challenge to Boeing Co., a person familiar with EADS’s plans said.

EADS, the parent of Airbus SAS, is scheduled to hold a news conference at 2 p.m. today in Washington. Guy Hicks, a spokesman for the company, declined to comment.

To contact the reporters on this story: Gopal Ratnam in Washington at gratnam1@bloomberg.net;