Rhetoric Heats up in Embraer vs. Beechcraft Contract Drama

Isabel Goyer

Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 10:42 PM ET

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Embraer Super Tucano

Key Takeaways:

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is suing the Air Force to reinstate its original win of the Light Air Support (LAS) contract, which was rescinded after a protest from Hawker Beechcraft (HBC).
SNC argues that reopening the competition was an "extreme response" to minor Air Force "paperwork errors" and claims the new process is fundamentally flawed.
SNC alleges that HBC received Air Force funding for its AT-6B's development during the evaluation and that the new competition might award a contract for an underdeveloped aircraft without crucial production test flights.

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Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), which has entered the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano in the United States Air Force’s Light Air Support competition, is crying foul over the latest developments in what is proving to be an ongoing drama with elements of international intrigue. To be sure, one of SNC’s complaints is an en eye-opener.

To refresh your memory, Sierra Nevada actually won the competition last December, with the Air Force selecting the Super Tucano. Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) officially protested, however, claiming that they weren’t given proper notification. The DoD eventually accepted the protest, threw out the earlier award to Sierra Nevada and reopened the competition.