It would be “virtually impossible” for Embraer to deliver its A-29 Super Tucano turboprop aircraft by the first half of 2013 if it wins the new Light Air Support (LAS) competition, according to its chief executive officer.
“Let’s say if the decision is delayed by six months, (it is) probably going to take us the same period, six months, to deliver the first aircraft,” Embraer CEO Frederico Curado told reporters Tuesday in Washington.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz told reporters Monday the service would publish a new draft request for proposals “later this month.”
Curado said if the company wins the new competition, it would try its hardest not to add any time to the delay.
“Our understanding was there was a real tactical need for these airplanes in the next year in Afghanistan,” Curado said. “If this is true and there is a resumption of this process soon, we will certainly work very, very hard to not add one single day beyond the actual delay of the decision process.”
Curado’s remarks come on the heels of Monday’s bilateral meeting between Brazil President Dilma Rousseff and President Barack Obama at the White House. The two announced the establishment of the U.S.-Brazil Defense Cooperative Dialogue, according to a White House statement.
Brazil’s Embraer and American partner Sierra Nevada Corp. had previously won the $355 million Air Force contract to supply Afghanistan with 20 A-29s. The air service announced in late February its intention to terminate the LAS contract due to documentation issues regarding the award decision. This allows previously-eliminated Hawker Beechcraft to re-bid with its AT-6.
Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said last week the Commander Directed Investigation into the matter was still ongoing and its results wouldn’t be made public (Defense Daily, April 6).