Boeing's Arrogance
The arrogance of the defense industry is staggering and is matched only by the incompetence of the Navy. Together, the two produce the kind of abysmal acquisition programs and naval strategies we’ve come to think of as normal. Here’s the latest example as reported by DOD Buzz website (1).
“Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson in March told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that the service requires two to three more squadrons of the Boeing Co. [Super Hornet].
That translates into roughly 24 to 36 planes to meet projected operational needs … “
OK, there’s the Navy’s officially stated need. That should be the end of the story. Now, Boeing decides to chime in.
“Boeing … says the Navy requires even more of the aircraft — closer to 100 planes — to satisfy operational demands.
That was the figure cited by Dan Gillian, vice president and program manager of F/A-18 programs at the aerospace giant, during a briefing with reporters Wednesday at the company’s offices in Arlington , Virginia
So, Boeing thinks the Navy needs 100 aircraft. Who asked them? Who cares what they think?
That’s not the end of it, though.
“He [Gillian] said the quantity is based on the Navy’s stated requirements for its carrier air wings, increasingly advanced air-defense systems developed by adversaries, the high operational rate of both Hornet and Super Hornets for U.S. airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, and other operations, among other factors.”
So now Boeing is assessing our military needs, operations, and strategies and determining what the Navy needs? Isn’t it the Navy’s job to determine what they need? The arrogance in this is stunning. Boeing is telling the Navy what they need.
You don’t think Boeing’s larger assessment of aircraft needs has anything to do with the fact that Boeing makes the aircraft in question, do you?
If I were CNO Richardson, I’d quietly call Gillian and tell him that if he wants to continue to do business with the Navy that he should shut up and leave the naval assessments to the Navy.
Far too often, the defense industry tells the military what to do, what equipment they need, and what they’ll have to pay to get it. That’s just backwards and wrong. Sadly, though, the military not only acquiesces, they actually depend on it because they lack the professionalism and expertise to form their own opinions. Remember former CNO Greenert’s statement that he can’t wait to see what the defense industry produces next? That couldn’t be any more backward. The Navy needs to tell the defense industry what is needed, not the other way around.
Let me be clear. I'm not saying that Boeing is doing something illegal by telling the Navy what they need. They're not. It's simply arrogant, uncalled for, embarrassing and demeaning to the Navy, a conflict of interest, and a clear lead-in to future fraud.
Let me be clear. I'm not saying that Boeing is doing something illegal by telling the Navy what they need. They're not. It's simply arrogant, uncalled for, embarrassing and demeaning to the Navy, a conflict of interest, and a clear lead-in to future fraud.
Some of you are thinking, hey, doesn’t ComNavOps routinely tell the Navy what they need? Yes, I do! The difference is that I don’t sell anything to the Navy, I have no conflict of interest when I give advice and, most importantly, my advice is always right.
Once upon a time I though Eisenhower was off base with his warning about the military-industrial-Congressional complex but now I wholeheartedly believe he was correct. This is a broken, corrupt system that doesn’t even bother to try to hide the incestuous relationship any more.
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(1)DoD Buzz website, “Boeing Says US Navy Needs About 100 More Super Hornets”, Brendan McGarry, 11-May-2016 ,
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