Will LAAR Competition Become Next Tanker Debacle?

I recently mentioned Hawker Beechcraft's (HBC's) candidate for the USAF Light Attack Armed Reconnisance (LAAR) aircraft program, the AT-6. I think their aircraft is a great candidate for this mission and stands a fair chance of getting the job. However, the AT-6 isn't the only aircraft being considered for that job. Two other major entrants include Embraer's A-29 Super Tucano and the Boeing OV-10 Bronco.

From what I've read, all three of these aircraft have the potential to do well in the LAAR role. I'd be excited to watch a competition between them as I'm sure they'd all put on a good show. Unfortunately, there is already some drama brewing over the LAAR program. I can only hope that this drama won't turn the LAAR program into the next acquisition program to flop due to politicing and perceptions of inequality.

According to an article in Reuters, the USAF is currently pursuing a deal to buy 100 Super-Tucanos before any competition is conducted. Unless some competition has taken place without the public knowing about it, this would seem to be a breach of policy. Some US Senators are naturally quite angry about the aircraft produced in the state they represent not getting a fair shot and wrote a letter to the President stating their concerns and asking some very direct questions.

The Super Tucano is definitely an impressive competitor as well. It is already in service with several military and mercenary forces all over the world.

I definitely have to give Super Tucano a big plus since it's ready to go right now. Both the AT-6 and OV-10 will need quite a bit more engineering and testing before they're even ready to start competing. I certainly understand that Senators are concerned if we're buying a fleet of these planes without a competition. However, we could put those aircraft to work right away rather than waiting decades for people to play "fair" like we're doing with the KC-135 replacement. It's a tough balance to strike. If we wait the years it will take to have a full competition, will we even need a LAAR aircraft by the time the competition is over?

It might be worth the wait though, since the other competitors are definitely no slouches. Articles in Aviation Week and Flight Global certainly make Boeing's OV-10 look like a good option. It has two engines and meets the most of the requirements for a completely separate compeition as well. The OV-10 has been proven in US military service and still flies missions in many parts of the world today.

Although I generally support the idea of holding a full competition for this LAAR aircraft, I have to take pause after reading the Senators' letter as it clearly showed them to be prejudiced against ever buying a foreign LAAR aircraft. My question is: what happens if the Super Tucano were to win the open competition that the Senators are demanding? Would they support buying it? If they can already say that they wouldn't, then how do they presume to call this competition fair at all?

The US military and US government have been operating foreign-built aircraft in a variety of missions for a very long time. Though I see nothing wrong with operating a foreign-built aircraft, I definitely support going with a domestic product, all else being equal. However, Senators, as one of the people who might have to fly these aircraft into harm's way, I think your primary concern should be finding the aircraft that will most effectively accomplish the mission and allow me to safely go home to my family when the job is done. I want the aircraft that accomplishes those two purposes the best, no matter where it comes from. If you propose to let any other political concern get in the way of that, then I'm afraid your priorities are grossly misplaced. I sincerely hope that's not the case. We're already bogged down in the process of trying to replace our 1950's era tankers. Let's not get ourselves into a similar situation here.

What do you think? Would a deal to buy a bunch of A-29s for immediate service be unforgivable or is it time? If a competition does happen, what aircraft will you place your bet on? If the Super Tucano won that competition, do you think congress would let the military buy it or would they mandate purchase of a lower-performing product? Would you support buying American if it came down to that? Leave a comment and let us know!

OV-10 picture via Flight Global

A-29 picture via Embraer Defense Systems