If the article were true why would the USAF have let HBC continue on with the program up until weeks before the contract award.
If their aircraft did not meet the basic requirements ‘as-is’ like the article says above someone at the pentagon should have said something.
Otherwise this was all a waste of not only their internal funds but also taxpayer dollars!
The simple truth is that HBC has coordinated with the USAF for years! (There has been involvement with the Iraqi Air Force since 2008!) Why would the USAF have strung them along up till now only to see them get the boot? It doesn’t make any sense.
Some of you seem hung up on how good the Tucano is....but have you seen the advanced systems going into the AT-6.
The Tucano may be proven in combat but does that necessarily mean it’s better? Would you also say the F-22 is a terrible airplane because it hasn’t seen real combat yet?
“The simple truth is that HBC has coordinated with the USAF for years!”
The USAF wanted a plane that was production-ready. The AT-6 seemingly is still not ready.