I salute you for that honest assessment of our government.
Having been involved with military sales for an entire career, I can tell you what’s wrong with your choice. They didn’t grease the right Congress Critter. To get Future Combat Systems approved, (a colossal waste) it took the Congress Critters of two companies, Boeing and SAIC. They both became project leads, or integrators of integrators, in the specially developed terminology to handle this idiot move. Half of all the money went toward their management services and only .20 cents on the dollar bought hardware or software.
You can sell cr*p to the military if you carry a pocket Congressman. Even the most spectacular equipment will not sell just on its merits. You need some cronyism in your corner or it’s no sale.
“Even the most spectacular equipment will not sell just on its merits. You need some cronyism in your corner or it’s no sale.”
When I worked operational test, it was also apparent that even if your product stunk, you could get Congress to fund it - if you had the right people in your pocket.
For the rest of the story - the Boeing VP who managed FCS and "managed" to piss away $2B of the company's dollars was subsequently promoted to President of the Defense division, where he oversaw gutting the tactical aircraft part of the business and basically just spun the BDS wheels in the mud for half a decade. Now he's at the corporate HQ being groomed for the top spot of CEO of the whole company when the current CEO retires.
But it's all good because he's a "rock star" doncha' know. That ought to keep those tax payer dollars flowing into Boeing's coffers, because what Congress Critter doesn't want to be seen with a "rock star"??
I salute you for that honest assessment of our government.