Congressman Mike Rogers is on Team T-100 Tuskegee
Congressman Mike Rogers is on Team T-100 Tuskegee – His words made this clear when he visited Tuskegee on October 18, 2017.
With the spirit of the Tuskegee Airmen hovering overhead, embodied in the Red Tail airplane that is suspended from the ceiling, Congressman Mike Rogers spoke about the T-100 project and said the words this community needed to hear. “I want this as bad as anybody in this room, to come here to Tuskegee and be a part of my congressional district.”
He emphasized that the T-100 is a proven training jet that is already being used by several countries around the world. He said here in the United States, the manufacturer of the T-100 faces a tough challenge from two other companies that are also bidding on the $16 billion Air Force contract.
Speaking to T-100 optimists assembled inside the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site on Wednesday, October 18, 2017, the congressman addressed the historic value of Moton Field, where the Tuskegee Airmen were trained as pilots for service during World War 2. “There is a uniqueness to this site here that has great symbolism and I think that is something Boeing and Lockheed can’t bring to the table and I believe the Air Force will factor that in,” Rogers said.
Congressman Rogers said Leonardo DRS executives are working diligently in Washington DC and commended them for bringing suppliers from various states to the nation’s capitol recently. Those suppliers urged their congressional representatives to support the Leonardo DRS bid for the U.S. Air Force contract.
“They have done an outstanding job at packaging this, and they are continuing to work to make sure folks on Capitol Hill who may not be a participant in the process know why this is so important,” Rogers said.
He also spoke in glowing terms about Tuskegee University, focusing on an advantage the school provides to the company. “One of the things that Leonardo DRS does not have to worry about is a feeder system of engineers because there is one of the finest engineering programs in the country right down the street from the plant.”
Rogers cautioned the crowd comprised of Macon County business and civic leaders to manage expectations because Leonardo DRS is competing against two of the biggest defense contractors. However, Rogers said he believes Leonardo DRS has a good chance of winning.
An announcement by the Air Force was expected to come before the end of this year. Rogers said a decision may not come until 2018, possibly in the Spring but it may be delayed until even later next year.
For more information on the T-100 project, visit https://www.airmenlegacy.com