The announcement makes Airbus the first of four companies to identify themselves as participants in Phase 1 of the Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) program.
Maneuvers of Russian spacecraft around France's satellites means Paris urgently needs patrol spacecraft, the French Air and Space Force space commander says.
The measure, known as the chairman’s mark, cuts $2.97 billion from the procurement accounts to help cover the $3.83 billion increase for personnel spending.
Plans to replace the three main fleets of mobility aircraft remain decades away, following the production run of the Next Generation Aerial Refueling System.
