Pentagon's Light Attack Plane Competition Has Large Implications (Source: Lexington Institute; issued May 11, 2011) (© Lexington Institute; reproduced by permission) The Air Force is planning to buy a "light attack and armed reconnaissance" aircraft for use by U.S. and foreign pilots in counter-insurgency warfare. At about $10 million per plane, it's probably the cheapest combat aircraft the service will buy in this century -- which is one reason why few politicians or pundits are paying attention. But the competition to select a winning aircraft raises broader questions about the way the military buys weapons, and in particular whether Pentagon...