When Congress tried to overrule the Air Force on CSAR-X, it set a bad precedent. In essence, by dragging a lot of politics into the mix, they have delayed that program for a while.
Now, KC-X is facing a similar delay, this time, rather than trying to stick it to Boeing, Congress is going to earmark the contract to Boeing. Now, I will not call this a pork-barrel situation, as CAGW did (CAGW in the past has come out for going back to oil-fueled carriers, killing the V-22,and has called the C-130J pork, so take their national-security recommendations with the appropriate level of salt).
The fact is that there are some people have about the Northrop Grumman entry. They are questions that deserve answers.
Showing posts with label DOD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DOD. Show all posts
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
KC-X Winner
Northrop/EADS has just won the Air Force tanker contract.
Boeing is, of course, expected to file a protest.
I doubt that the protest will be upheld--after the hash the USAF made of the last go-around, the procurement office no doubt dotted every i, crossed every t, and minded every last p and q.
Boeing is, of course, expected to file a protest.
I doubt that the protest will be upheld--after the hash the USAF made of the last go-around, the procurement office no doubt dotted every i, crossed every t, and minded every last p and q.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Lockheed goes Sore-Loserman...
The don't even wait for the award to file the protest.
I will refer people to my piece at Strategypage on the HH-47. It recently was re-run as a Dirty Little Secret.
Short version, the US101/VH-71 SAR variant got its ass kicked by the HH-47 in performance, past track record (four decades' worth), and existing logistical base/development risk.
John McCain needs to let this one go. The best chopper won.
I will refer people to my piece at Strategypage on the HH-47. It recently was re-run as a Dirty Little Secret.
Short version, the US101/VH-71 SAR variant got its ass kicked by the HH-47 in performance, past track record (four decades' worth), and existing logistical base/development risk.
John McCain needs to let this one go. The best chopper won.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Increasing the military...
Ed Morrissey discusses the plan to increase the military's size.
In one respect, this was a mistake by Don Rumsfeld. We needed at least four, preferably eight, more Army divisions. That said, we also had problems with a bureaucracy that has become way to slow for the 21st century - and Rummy perceived that to be the bigger problem. It was a problem, but Rumsfeld, in his push for transformation, forgot that quantity is also important.
The real issue will be whether this larger force is just for the Army and Marines, or if it will also go for the Navy and Air Force. If we keep the production lines going, the per-unit price for the F-22 will drop to about $117 million. Increasing the production of the Super Hornet, C-17, C-130J, and F-35 will do the same for the other stuff (you'll note that you always get good bargains at BJ's or Costco), like the Zumwalt-class destroyers.
In one respect, this was a mistake by Don Rumsfeld. We needed at least four, preferably eight, more Army divisions. That said, we also had problems with a bureaucracy that has become way to slow for the 21st century - and Rummy perceived that to be the bigger problem. It was a problem, but Rumsfeld, in his push for transformation, forgot that quantity is also important.
The real issue will be whether this larger force is just for the Army and Marines, or if it will also go for the Navy and Air Force. If we keep the production lines going, the per-unit price for the F-22 will drop to about $117 million. Increasing the production of the Super Hornet, C-17, C-130J, and F-35 will do the same for the other stuff (you'll note that you always get good bargains at BJ's or Costco), like the Zumwalt-class destroyers.
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