Defense foreign teaming: Political, efficient, or both?

While in the past, foreign bidders were longshots against their American counterparts, the Pentagon has recently picked several overseas designs. Last month, Boeing captured a $9.2 billion deal to build new T-X pilot training jets for the U.S. Air Force. It designed the plane from scratch with Saab. Boeing also won a $2.4 billion deal to replace Air Force UH-1N helicopters with a bid that included the Italian-made AW139 commercial helicopter.

From DefenseOne. Well, maybe Germany, Brazil, Sweden, and those guys are OK, but Trump wants Chinese parts out of defense goods.

The real question is whether the supply chain is economically efficient or politically engineered.

Saab teamed up with Boeing for the AF Trainer. Shown above, a Saab Gripen fighter. Saab’s automobile sector went out of business.