So the USAF awards the LAS contract to Embraer/Sierra Nevada for thier Super Tucano and agree's to buy 200 aircraft. Hawker Beechcraft is pissed that their AT-6 II is DQ and protests. USAF ignores protest. Hawker Beechcraft sues. The USAF backs down, and re-opens the contract (to include the AT-6 II). Now Embraer is pissed and sues. Brazil makes dark comments that this might derail the possible purchase of US F-18s. On the side some defense experts state that the USAF doesn't even want the LAS anymore becuase of the changing situation in Afghanistan.
WTF?
Is this how this always works? I know the US Defense aquisition process is broken, but this seems pretty ridiculous for what should have been a pretty straight foward purhcase of an off-the-shelf aircraft. Do companies that lose bids on defense contracts get to sue everytime? I'm amazed that we ever manage to actually buy anything.
Adrian
WTF?
Is this how this always works? I know the US Defense aquisition process is broken, but this seems pretty ridiculous for what should have been a pretty straight foward purhcase of an off-the-shelf aircraft. Do companies that lose bids on defense contracts get to sue everytime? I'm amazed that we ever manage to actually buy anything.
Adrian