House Panel’s 2018 Defense Policy Bill Includes Restriction on USAF Compass Call Aircraft Recapitalization Program

The House Armed Services Committee’s defense policy bill for fiscal 2018 would postpone the provision of funds for the U.S. Air Force’s Compass Call aircraft recapitalization program until the Defense Department’s acquisition office determines that the service branch’s procurement strategy complies with the law, Defense News reported Friday.

A House aide told reporters that lawmakers have concerns about the Air Force’s acquisition strategy and do not oppose the selection of L3 Technologies as principal contractor on the program.

“We’re a little bit confused about what their acquisition strategy is, so we want [the defense undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics] to tell us it’s a sound strategy,” the aide said.

“[The U.S. Air Force] said they are going to now contract with a lead systems integrator, then it became a systems integrator… So we’re just confused by that.”

Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch, military deputy of the Air Force’s acquisition office, said in May that the service’s decision to choose L3 to perform systems integration work and let the firm pick a new aircraft that will replace the fleet of EC-130H Compass Call planes stems from the company’s familiarity with the mission equipment.