a) Provide historical perspective on how the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union played out. It began in the early 1990s. The Soviet Union adopted regulations to control many aircraft manufacturers. Many brands and companies have merged. In the years following the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, major airline manufacturers left the market due to poor sales. Only Boeing and Airbus therefore remained in this market. We call this situation a duopoly. Over the past ten years, competition has been very tight. Initially, Boeing had advantages over Airbus in terms of orders. However, in recent years, Airbus has received more orders than Boeing. Additionally, Airbus is the winner in terms of the number of aircraft delivered, but Boeing is not far behind. b) Identify at least three (3) distinct factors that gave Boeing and Airbus a competitive advantage over each other, as well as three distinctive missteps. by each company that caused it to lose a competitive advantage.BoeingThree distinct factors:Technology. The Boeing 787 is made from composites which reduce fuel consumption to some extent. Even though Airbus has improved its technology, Boeing's technique is more advanced. Strong Outsourcing Capability: Boeing has enjoyed a long and exceptional relationship with Japanese suppliers who provide high-quality components and efficient products. assembly line. Historical prestige: Boeing has a long history of providing trusted services and a good public image. Three distinctive missteps: Battery problems: These are electrical problems that cause several safety incidents such as than fires. Battery problems have side effects on Boeing's public image. Supply chain: Boeing lacks experience in managing a multi-tiered supply chain, so Boeing cannot...... middle of paper ...... Reference: 1 . Parimucha, J. (November 3, 2010). Airbus vs Boeing: History in a Nutshell.WhichAirline.com. Accessed April 25, 2014 from http://www. Whichairline.com/news/airbus-vs-boeing-the-history-in-short2. SUBSIDY DOGFIGHT – BOEING AGAINST AIRBUS. (nd). Global trade and logistics. Accessed April 25, 2014 from http://www.globaltradeandlogistics.net/?p=393. Competitive factors in the aircraft manufacturing industry (Airbus: Challenger to Market Leader). (March 17, 2011). Competitive factors in the aircraft manufacturing industry (Airbus: Challenger to Market Leader). Retrieved from http://assignmenthelpseries14.blogspot.com/4. How your competition affects your strategic plan. (November 5, 2011). Business strategy consulting. Retrieved from http://www.methodframeworks.com/blog/2011/how-your-competition-affects-your-strategic-plan/index.html