The Government Accountability Office has rejected the protest lodged by the losing Joint Cargo Aircraft team—Raytheon and EADS North America. Earlier this year, the Army and Air Force awarded the JCA contract to the L-3-led team’s C-27 Spartan. In a statement, Robert Drewes, president of L-3 Integrated Systems Group, said the team, which includes Alenia North America, Boeing, and Global Military Aircraft Systems, is “anxious to get started so that we can promptly deliver this capability to our warfighters.” He added, “The C-27J is the most rugged, versatile, and survivable aircraft in its class and unquestionably provides the highest degree of tactical utility.” In a separate statement, Giuseppe Giordo, president and chief executive officer, Alenia North America, said that the GAO decision “validates a detailed and exhaustive competitive process during which the US Army and US Air Force both recognized the unique capabilities of our C-27J aircraft, our team, and our JCA offering as a whole.”
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3