Military Contracts

Didn't plan to write this one, just read an articla in the local paper and I can't help myself.

The headline was something along the lines of "Local plant gears up" or something or other. The basic idea is that a local defense contractor is now producing a small SUV type vehicle that can fit inside the V-22 tilt rotor aircraft. Cool idea. Give the grunts a little mobility from the time they get boots on the ground. I like that idea. Tactically makes sense, lots of possibilities. Anyway, as I separated from the military a number of years ago, I was unfamiliar with the vehicle so I did some quick internet research. Turns out it is a tiny Jeep looking thing. It really does look like a WW II or Korean War era Jeep that has been shrunk down, sort of a glorified go kart in olive drab or desert brown. Not the scariest of war machines, but I was still giving it the benefit of the doubt; that was until i read what happened to the price. When the contract was bid, apparently the price was one number, then, once the contract was awarded, one models price increased 120% and the other one 86%. The more expensive of the two models actually costs more than $1,000,000!!! For a Jeep, and a mini one at that!!!

Now I realize the military has a lot of expensive toys, but any business man will tell you: If you are going to make a capital investment of $1,000,000 or more, that peice of equipment had better be a "game-changer" in its abilities. Think about it. Some DoD contract weenie has agreed to pay $1,000,000 of hard earned taxpayer money for a tiny two seat vehicle that once in a theater of combat will become an RPG and IED magnet like every other military vehicle. On top of that, this thing is so small it would be impossible to "up-armor" like a Humvee or Striker. I can tell you one thing (and I guaruntee I am not alone in saying this) unless I was looking to get out of dodge in a hell of a hurry I would take my LPCs (thats boots for all you civilians) over that vehicle any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Congrats to all who work in the Growler factory, this county can use more good news like that on the job front, but to the rest of America, I am sorry we have to foot the bill for this. Hopefully I'm wrong and this won't end up as another high priced paperweight like the as yet un-battle tested F-22 (apparently that part of the air force didn't get the memo that two wars are going on)