Kansas not Brazil: Build the LAAR in America

Our anemic recovery from the recession, if it actually is a recovery, is in jeopardy: our economy is clearly sputtering. Which is why I want to revisit US Air Force's need for a new light attack aircraft (LAAR). Two companies are bidding on it. If Hawker Beechcraft wins the bid, 800 new jobs will be created in Wichita, Kansas--the airplane manufacturing hub has been hit hard by the economic downturn. However if Brazilian firm Embraer prevails, most of those jobs will be in Brazil, although Florida will gain 20 positions.

This should be an easy decision to make. But if you want more convincing that the Hawker Beechcraft should build the plane, Townhall explains:

There are also other issues for the U.S. Air Force to consider when selecting an aircraft for these vital missions. For example, there is a little known clause in Embraer's bylaws known as the "golden share." This clause preserves Brazil's "national interest" in the company and endows the Brazilian government with the same voting rights as the holders of common shares. Most notably, the "golden share" equips the Brazilian government with veto rights over the creation and alteration of military programs, whether or not involving the Federative Republic of Brazil. This means that if the Department of Defense were to award this contract to Embraer, the Brazilian government, which has a notably strained and inconsistent relationship with the United States, would have the power to shut down production or maintenance of American defense aircraft at any time with no notice. Given the many pitfalls related to trusting American national security to Brazil, it is concerning that the Department of Defense is even considering Embraer's proposal.

Related posts:

Build the new LAAR plane here, not Brazil

Wichita mayor, union leader, slam Obama's anti-corporate jet comments

Technorati tags: business Boeing air force aviation military defense kansas Wichita brazil brasil