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| Britain | |
| BAE bids to land £7bn US jet project | |
| 2012-07-08 | |
| Defence giant BAE Systems is in the running to provide the United States Air Force with a new training jet. BAE Systems has emerged as the frontrunner to provide the United States Air Force with a new training jet in what would be a major boost for Britain's biggest manufacturer and the UK economy. Senior figures within BAE believe the T-X program to provide the US air force with 350 training jets presents a "very significant opportunity" and that the company is well positioned to win the deal. The contract is estimated to be worth more than $11bn (£7.1bn). BAE believes its Hawk jet has a strong chance because budget constraints in the US mean the air force is not looking for a brand new aircraft.
BAE is working on its bid with Northrop Grumman and L-3 Link. A final decision is expected to be made by the USAF in early 2014, with the aircraft in service by 2020. | |
| Posted by: |
| #4 and Congress will never know... Or care, as long as the 'appropriate' amount is spent in the right states and Districts. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2012-07-08 11:05 |
| #3 ...Want to make clear - my opposition to this is no reflection on the Hawk. It is a superb little aircraft at what it does (training, light attack, and even not bad at air-to-air). The shame of it is that our procurement system is so broken that we can't come up with a make-'em-like-hotcakes little bird like this any more. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2012-07-08 10:22 |
| #2 Call them T/F/A-35's and Congress will never know... |
| Posted by: Steve White 2012-07-08 10:00 |
| #1 Oh Lord....not again. By the time the USAF is done with them thy'll cost more each than a wing of F-22s. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2012-07-08 08:08 |