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From: jtchew@csa2.lbl.gov (JOSEPH T CHEW)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: SUPERTOMCAT/ATF
Summary: Behind-the-scenes politicking may also be involved
Message-ID: <1991Feb9.034935.5651@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 9 Feb 91 03:49:35 GMT
References: <1991Feb8.021447.21077@cbnews.att.com>
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley CA
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Approved: military@att.att.com



From: jtchew@csa2.lbl.gov (JOSEPH T CHEW)
>There is a NATF program to adopt the selected fighter for Navy use as a
>replacement for the F-14.  Grumman has proposed the SuperTomcat as an
>alternative, claiming near ATF capability at far less cost, in a proven
>carrier-capable aircraft...
>Lockheed teams {ATF is} within the weight guidelines for adaptation to
>carrier use, while the Northrup aircraft is too heavy.  If the Air Force
>goes with Northrup, then the SuperTomcat proposal probably will proceed.

One may suspect, with pragmatism but not necessarily cynicism, that non-
technical factors may be highly significant.  They include the balance
of pork on Capitol Hill and the desirability of sending a lifeboat to a
valuable defense contractor that finds itself in shoal waters.  Perhaps 
someone with some inside knowledge of procurement would care to comment.

--Joe
"Just another personal opinion from the People's Republic of Berkeley"