Pentagon Reviews Health of Helicopter Industrial Base

http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/new...s/08164wna.xml

{EXCERPT} By Robert Wall 08/15/2004 03:26:37 PM

WHERE'S THE INNOVATION?

The Pentagon is taking aim at some of its helicopter suppliers,
expressing concern that their focus on after-market support has come
at the expense of innovation.

But industry representatives disagree with many of the findings,
arguing that they aren't ground in reality.

The study is the first broad assessment of the rotorcraft industrial
base since the cancellation of the RAH-66 Comanche earlier this year.
It is also the first review since several major helicopter programs
ran over budget in 2001. The overall impression is that companies have
made improvements and there's little risk of a shrinking vendor base.
An apparent lack of innovation from industry emerges as the Pentagon's
biggest concern.

However, the recommendations offered in the 42-page study could shake
up the Defense Dept.'s traditional helicopter p...

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