Leaving for a job at Hawker-Beechcraft?
Posted on 02/29/2012 9:22:28 AM PST by DefenseMatters
Super Tucano Vs AT-6: The “Smoking Hole” by Ed Timperlake
“While we pursue perfection, we sometimes fall short, and when we do we will take corrective action,” said Air Force Secretary Michael Donley, in a statement Tuesday (Feb 28, 2012).
The USAF just withdrew their selection of the SuperTucano for the Afghan Army Air Force LAS. Numerous worldwide news stories are reporting this action.
The Air Force plans to set aside a disputed $354 million contract for a light air support plane and initiate an investigation into the award. A senior USAF acquisition official, who is reportedly leaving soon in any case, did not like the documentation for the award. We also have learned from news stories that he commander of the Air Force Material Command has initiated an investigation into the matter.
The USAF creates a smoking hole at a crucial moment in transition in Afghanistan. Credit Photo: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/9363124 However, there is a lot more to this story starting with the announcement process. It was not in prepared testimony by Secretary Donley but rather stated by him in introductory remarks at a Capital Hill Hearing. Within minutes a blast e-mail went out to Congress announcing the AF re-do decision.
Compounding the AF actions is the brutal fact that at the height of American troops being savagely murdered in Afghanistan it appears there was no coordination with the client, the Afghan President and his Minister of Defense.
Did our Ambassador, or for that matter anyone at State know beforehand? Heck of a way to fight and win a war.
All those pleased with the decision are announcing their support because it means jobs for Kansas. But wait one minute—what about troops in combat and the fact the SuperTucano, is a far superior combat proven LAS aircraft could have already been flying combat missions years ago, I guess the Marine saying still applies: “The Marines are at war America is at the Mall.”
How about the foreign policy implications the U.S. Sierra Nevada Corporation and Brazil –I guess an honorable team just fell for the great line from Animal House —“You F*** Up-you trusted us.”
With an $ 8-9 Billion Brazil possible downselect of the F/A-18 in play I can not think of a bigger insult to a company Enbraer that builds a great product. The USAF just a few weeks ago stood tall in protecting their honor and integrity-and their judgement was confirmed by GAO. A few weeks ago the USAF issued a then definitive white paper on the LAS competition:
LAS procurement conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations • The USAF engaged in discussions with all offerors from 8 Apr 11 until 23 Sep 11 to ensure we had a clear understanding of their proposals, and all offerors had a clear understanding of the USAF’s requirements • Offerors whose proposals did not meet the LAS requirements were provided ENs outlining proposal deficiencies and weaknesses • The ENs contain proprietary information and can only be released by the offeror • HBDC was removed from the competitive range on 1 Nov 2011 • HBDC protested its exclusion from the competitive range with the Government Accountability Office (GAO case number B-406170) on 21 Nov 11
Perhaps Mr. Van Buren, the Senior USAF Acquisition official, concerned with improved documentation didn’t have a chance to read the USAF paper sent to Congress. And perhaps he missed the GAO action. GAO dismissed HBDC’s protest on 22 Dec 11. The real world practical result of this process is more important than deployed capabilities is that the Obama Administration will more than likely accelerate an Afghan exit strategy. If so, there will sadly be no aircraft for Afghanistan.
The USAF is taking great pains to remind everyone that the case is still in litigation-but now will that case continue is another question-perhaps the discovery process putting reputations at risk? The USAF said there would be an accelerated investigation and maybe they will get the investigation correct now for some extremely important questions one might pose and which the USAF needs to answer. Was it management incompetence or something more serious when HBC submitted the AT-6 into a non-developmental, production ready, and no USG funds to be expended LAS source selection? A fly-off that was not a fly-off. Why was the “fly-off” allowed between a full up combat aircraft and one the AT-6 which STILL is in development and not certified for weapons release? Were any USG funds for test ranges and pilots to try and certify the AT-6 for weapons release expended during the source selection?
Is it a case of criminal leaks and/or successful corporate “economic espionage” that allowed Chairman Bill Boisture to speak with authority on knowing the offer price per aircraft of the SuperTucano? Question number 4 is central. If HBC knows the offered cost per aircraft of the SuperT, not the allocated total dollar amount which covers support etc., then SNC and Embraer do not have a chance of success in a re-compete. Knowledge of that specific number is worth a potential billion dollars.
Why is there absolutely no sense of urgency on the part of the USAF to get core capabilities for the Afghan military in place as we transition our forces in Afghanistan?
Roll out the A-10s.
Oh yea, real smart! Cut A-10s when something like this happens. What the hell is happening to the people managing this country and its military?!
Why don’t they just mount some 30 cal pods on A-10’s? They already have the wing mounts and the aircraft. Plus, if they need to build more A-10’s, they already have the plans and they’re inexpensive.
Leaving for a job at Hawker-Beechcraft?
Another complete F-up on this project. The AT-6 isn’t ready, the Super T has been ready for years. Hell of a way to run a war.
Do the Ruskies still have some Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmoviks that we can buy? We been fighting insurgents for 10 years now and the US still does not have an appropriate attack aircraft, except for the very capable A-10? If the US gives the contract to AT-6 what is the over/under on development time and cost overruns.
To hell with it, do not buy any::
Five years from now and ten times the cost per unit, the first AT may be delivered.
Cut off all U.S. spare parts, ammo, aid, and everything else that keeps Karzai’s corrupt government alive. As American troops pull out, they should systematically destroy all the infrastructure we've pumped into Afghanistan. We sabotage the equipment and we should hang Karzai and his ministers as we leave.
...but Goldman Sachs (half owners of HBC) will have gotten their USAF-sponsored bail-out.
If your suggestion is true, then Government has sank to the deepest level of corruption equal to what we accuse the third world nations of.
At a Town Hall Meeting
On the 2008 Campaign Trail
ELDERLY LADY: Now, this Obama, I know he’s a terrorist...
MCCAIN: No, dear...Mr. Obama is not a terrorist.
______________________________
Just once I wish Juan McCain could get just one g-d’ed thing right...
now THAT..... makes sense as to why the production super tucano is out and the on the drawing board at-6 is in...now i understand
We are not giving Warthogs to the ungrateful Afghans. Hope they get nothing.
The tooling was scraped when they were declared "obsolete". That's why Crew Chiefs are having to scramble for parts from older, shot up planes to keep newer planes airworthy.
Regards,
GtG
Heck, if we still built turbo-supercharged radials we could hand over some Republic P-47’s or some Douglas A-1’s. They would be ideal.
Bring back the Douglas Skyraider!
We might be able to buy some IL-10s from the Norks.
pingity ping
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