The Government Accountability Office (GAO) last Friday denied a protest by Boeing [BA] over the selection of L3 Technologies [LLL] earlier this year for a new electronic-attack aircraft without hosting a competition.
L3 is responsible for the current EC-130H Compass Call aircraft, which is a modified version of Lockheed Martin [LMT] C-130 transport. L3 has responsibility under the new program to select a new airframe, which Boeing also objected due to a conflict of interest because one of the aircraft being considered is the Gulfstream G550, a business jet built by General Dynamics [GD] that L3 also works on.
The GAO announced its decision on its website but hasn’t published a decision summary yet because some information in the judgment may have to be redacted as the protest is covered by a protective order.
The EC-130H Compass Call aircraft is used to electronically attack enemy tactical command, control and communications, making it difficult for opposing forces to coordinate.
Boeing said in a statement on Monday that “We’re disappointed in the Government Accountability Office’s decision to deny our protest of the Compass Call acquisition process. We continue to believe we have the best solution for this mission and that a fair and open competition would best serve both the warfighter and taxpayer.”
The Air Force said in a statement on Monday that “We’re moving forward with the Compass Call Re-host as quickly as possible, to meet the demand of emerging threats and combatant commanders’ need for this critical capability.”
At a House Armed Services Committee hearing in May, Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch, the military deputy for the Air Force acquisition office, told lawmakers that L3 was the only company with the technology and experience for the new program and that the service would review L3’s selection of an airframe (Defense Daily, May 25).