The U.S. Air Force and Boeing say they have a great relationship despite a recent government report warning of a “tenuous” connection between the two over the delays for the T-7A Red Hawk training jet. According to Breaking Defense the two parties have a solid relationship.
“I’d say our relationship is not tenuous. My relationship with my counterpart and my [program executive officer’s, or PEO’s] relationship with his counterpart are actually fantastic,” Col. Kirt Cassell, chief of the T-7A Red Hawk division, told Breaking Defense in a May 23 interview. “Collectively, the Air Force and Boeing have had some leadership changeover occur recently. And we are really hitting our stride together as a team.
“This is a fixed price contract, and with that, there could be a perception that the losses are driving a tenuous relationship,” he added, referencing the $1.1 billion Boeing has lost on the program to date, “but I’ll be honest with you, I’m really pleased with my counterpart. I know my PEO is terribly pleased with his counterpart.”
