Raytheon says in a June 27 release the Army-Air Force selection group that awarded the Joint Cargo Aircraft program contract to competitor L-3 Communications “either incorrectly measured” or failed to consider “crucial portions” of its proposal offering the C-295 for the new intratheater airlifter program. We reported yesterday that Raytheon had filed a protest on the JCA award selection of the C-27 Spartan. Raytheon also notes that it beat the L-3 price “by more than 15 percent.”
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.