OTTAWA, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Airbus SE AIR.PA said on Friday it was pulling out of a multi-billion dollar competition to supply Canada with 88 new fighter jets, citing onerous security requirements and a late rule change that allowed its main rival to submit a bid.
The move increases Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) Corp's LMT.N chances of winning the race. Airbus and other contenders had complained that Ottawa appeared to be tilting the race in favor of the U.S. aerospace giant.