Friday, December 30, 2011

A contract to build a Light Air Support aircraft for the U.S. Air Force has been awarded to the Sierra Nevada Corporation and its Brazilian manufacturer Embraer, according to Hawker Beechcraft.

The Wichita-based company said the unannounced award was made on Dec. 22. Hawker filed a suit with the Court of Federal Claims Dec. 27. Officials said the Government Accountability Office declined to review why the U.S. Air Force excluded Hawker from the Light Air Support competition.

“This is yet another example of the Air Force’s lack of transparency throughout this competition,” said Bill Boisture, Hawker Beechcraft chairman and CEO. “With this development, it now seems even clearer that the Air Force intended to award the contract to Embraer from early in this process.”

During the hearing on Dec. 28, Hawker Beechcraft requested that the court grant a temporary restraining order to keep the Air Force from moving forward. The court agreed to establish an accelerated schedule for briefings on the temporary restraining order and the legal merits of the case.

A ruling on Hawker Beechcraft’s request for a temporary restraining order is expected by Jan. 11.

The LAS contract is valued at nearly $1 billion.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Hawker Beechcraft has filed a suit with the Court of Federal Claims after the Government Accountability Office declined to review why the U.S. Air Force excluded Hawker from the Light Air Support competition.

The U.S. Air Force announced earlier this year that the aviation company’s Beechcraft AT-6 would not be considered for the program. Hawker has said the U.S. Air Force offered no explanation.

Bill Boisture, Hawker Beechcraft Chairman and CEO, said the company deserved a fair chance at the contract.

“We find ourselves still without answers, which is unacceptable, and continue to believe that our exclusion from this important contract was made without basis in process or fact,” Boisture said.

Hawker builds a T-6 trainer aircraft. The companies AT-6 is a purpose-built light attack and armed reconnaissance solution available that leverages the T-6 platforms, programs and people.

The LAS contract is valued at nearly $1 billion. The U.S. Air Force is expected to announce the contract winner early 2012.