Register

DoD Reverses Decision on Hawker vs. Embraer

Embraer Super Tucano
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The Air Force has reinstated Hawker Beechcraft Corporation's (HBC) bid for a significant contract to supply light air support aircraft to Afghanistan.
  • This decision follows HBC's protest against the initial award of the contract to Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC), which had proposed the Embraer Super Tucano.
  • Both companies are now vying for the contract, each emphasizing the "American-made" aspects of their respective aircraft (HBC's AT-6 and SNC's U.S.-assembled Super Tucano).
  • The Air Force will now reconsider both entries, though details on the new competition process have not yet been released.
See a mistake? Contact us.

According to Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Chairman Bill Boisture, the Air Force has decided to restore the company’s failed bid to win the potentially lucrative contract to build 20 light air support (LAS) aircraft for delivery to Afghanistan with potential follow-on business worth up to a billion dollars.

The Air Force had previously announced that Sierra Nevada Corp. had won the competition with its entry, an Embraer Super Tucano. But HBC protested the award and claimed it had not had enough time to respond to the award and that it had not received sufficient notice of the award to Sierra Nevada in order to appeal that decision. (To read more about the controversy, see our prior story on the subject.)

Isabel Goyer

A commercial pilot, Isabel Goyer has been flying for more than 40 years, with hundreds of different aircraft in her logbook and thousands of hours. An award-winning aviation writer, photographer and editor, Ms. Goyer led teams at Sport Pilot, Air Progress and Flying before coming to Plane & Pilot in 2015.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE