Who should build our next light attack aircraft? (Brazil?)

Hot Air ^ | January 7, 2012 | Jazz Shaw

[bobsunshine]

The United States Air Force is facing questions from Hawker Beechcraft Corp. after a recent GAO decision effectively removed them from the running in a bid to build our next generation of light attack aircraft....

Hawker Beechcraft, which has been excluded by the U.S. Air Force from competing for a contract to supply a new light attack aircraft, is fighting mad and fighting back. The Wichita-based manufacturer of business jets and turboprops filed suit yesterday with the Court of Federal Claims following notification that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) declined to review its protest of the Air Force decision, which was made public in November. The company’s AT-6 light attack variant of the T-6 turboprop trainer was previously considered a front-runner in the competition for a contract valued at nearly $1 billion, and Hawker Beechcraft and its partners in the AT-6 say they have invested more than $100 million preparing for the competition. .....

If the company is out of the race, the only remaining competitor is listed as being Sierra Nevada Corp.based in Nevada. The problem with that, however, is that critics have noted that Sierra Nevada is more of a front company and the actual manufacturer would be Brazilian-based Embraer, manufacturer of the Super Tucano, which would take the place of the AT-6.

[bobsunshine]

The "King" has decided that Brazil is best suited for building our planes and delivering our oil. In his words "we will be your best customer"

[bmwcyle]

The Unions get screwed again by their leader.

[apoliticalone]

Any country that either outsources or “mercenizes” its military and effectiveness is headed in the same direction as the Roman Empire.

[Don Corleone]

A SOROS company!

[DJ MacWoW]

Did You Know?

The Current FReepathon Pays For The Current Quarters Expenses?

Now That You Do, Donate And Keep FR Running

[Venturer]

We have to get this bunch out of our Government or we won’t have a country.

[Yo-Yo]

The Super Tucano is a proven design, while the AT-6 Texan II has yet to actually drop any ordnance.

[driftdiver]

“the AT-6 Texan II has yet to actually drop any ordnance.”

Yeah those prop airplanes are a new fangled contraption, we’d be far better off trusting our military development with a country that has open anti-american tendencies.

[wita]

Answers are in order. Just why is Hawker Beechcraft out and Embraer in? inquiring minds want to know. The American people ought to know. Taxpayers should know. In the end, we better know, because there can be no good reason. NONE!

[jimpick]

All designs are new at some time. If we only accepted proven designs we would not have the best equipment in inventory. I don’t want our troops fighting with last years out dated equipment.

[bert]

———Just why is Hawker Beechcraft out and Embraer in?-——

Perhaps Embraer builds a better product.

Consider Hawker, not just Beechcraft. Perhaps Hawker diluted the product Beech quality beyond the point of military acceptability.

[Carry_Okie]

Should they have said that about the P-51?

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Here ya go Bob! Soros is connected to the deal!

http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2012/01/odd-coincidence-soros-affiliated.html

[kenmcg]

You can bet many parts will be supplied by the Chinese.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Ideally the plane would be built in the US. I'm no aviation expert, but the design and capabilities of the Super Tucano certainly do seem better suited to the Light Air Support mission:

[ProtectOurFreedom]

And the A-29 / Super Tucano would be built in the US in Jacksonville, FL using parts from 70 US suppliers in 21 states:

[Oztrich Boy]

Answers are in order. Just why is Hawker Beechcraft out and Embraer in? inquiring minds want to know.

Because Embraer had a combat-proven product ready for delivery. Hawker Beechcraft has promiseware.

An examination, not from Hawker-Beechcraft fluffers

LAARA: Beechcraft vs. Embraer

[Gritty]

I wonder how much of Embraer George Soros owns?

[spetznaz]

...previously considered a front-runner in the ....

Just goes to show that when it comes to lies both sides are adept. The AT-6 was NEVER considered a forerunner. It hadn't (and still has not) even reached a level where it could match capabilities the Super Tucano had proven years before. The Super Tucano was built ground up to be a light-attack COIN aircraft, while the AT-6 was being modified to try and be one. If one wants to make a case for the AT-6 one can go ahead and use the 'Made in America' - however an argument cannot be made based on capabilities.

[Yo-Yo]

Yeah those prop airplanes are a new fangled contraption, we’d be far better off trusting our military development with a country that has open anti-american tendencies.

We're buying a handful of these long-loiter, low speed aircraft, and it makes much more economic sense to buy off the shelf at a guaranteed price per copy than to sink unknown billions in a new development program for such a low rate of production.

We're not talking primary defense like the F-22 or F-35, but for what it's worth both of those programs were/are years behind schedule and hundreds of billions over projected budget.