{"id":58515,"date":"2018-04-30T06:35:03","date_gmt":"2018-04-30T06:35:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/04\/30\/army-taking-another-stab-at-buying-new-fixed-wing-utility-aircraft\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:22:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:22:20","slug":"army-taking-another-stab-at-buying-new-fixed-wing-utility-aircraft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/aaaa\/2018\/04\/30\/army-taking-another-stab-at-buying-new-fixed-wing-utility-aircraft\/","title":{"rendered":"Army taking another stab at buying new fixed-wing utility aircraft"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2014 The Army is taking a second stab at buying a new fixed-wing utility aircraft after it decided not to choose an aircraft<\/a> during a previous competition, according to the service\u2019s program executive officer for aviation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe haven\u2019t given up on it,\u201d Brig. Gen. Thomas Todd, told a group of reporters at the Army Aviation Association of America\u2019s annual summit April 26.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service has been trying to replace its aging fixed-wing utility aircraft fleet for years and seemed close to making a decision on the way forward last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But when it came time to choose an aircraft during last year\u2019s competition, the service opted to choose nothing. The Army canceled its solicitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part of the problem might have been that there was only one offering \u2014 a Sierra Nevada and Textron team submission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sierra Nevada protested the Army\u2019s decision, but the Government Accountability Office denied the protest in December 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army has been trying to replace its fleet of C-12 and C-26 transport aircraft for many years. Even three years ago, about 77 percent of the fleet was considered beyond useful life, which would require either replacement or recapitalization through a service life extension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The basic requirement is to procure a non-developmental fixed-wing aircraft that is capable of performing operational-support airlift missions, moving personnel and equipment flexibly around the battlefield. The Army has been looking for improved passenger and payload capability along with greater refueling range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service first released a request for information in 2012 looking for potential commercial off-the-shelf replacements with the plan to procure and field the aircraft from fiscal 2014 and 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army has been talking to industry and consortiums to configure a new approach to defining its requirements and procuring a new aircraft using other transactional authorities (OTA), which alters the acquisition rules to more quickly move through the process, according to Todd.<\/p>\n\n\n\t