The US government spent $1.75 million on an Airbus A321 passenger jet just to blow it up — here's why

Thomas PalliniJul 17, 2020, 19:12 IST

An Airbus A321.Gilles BOUQUILLON/Gamma-Rapho/Getty

The US Army bought an Airbus A321 for $1.75 million to test its vulnerabilities as part of its Commercial Aircraft Vulnerability program at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland.
Aircraft in the program are tested to determine threat-level and weaknesses with the Army looking to test the A321 due to its growing popularity and market share.
"Explosive vulnerability testing" is part of the testing regime where the Army tests explosives on the aircraft.

There are exceptions to every rule, especially when it comes to blowing things up.

The US Army just awarded a near-$2 million contract to an Arkansas company to acquire an Airbus A321 aircraft, according to the General Services Administration. It's not a typical acquisition as the A321 is a European-built jet and the military doesn't often buy its passenger jets built by overseas manufacturers like Airbus.

In the US Air Force, for example, American-made fighter jets from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, McDonnell Douglas, and General Dynamics are preferred over European planes from Eurofighter, Mikoyan, and Sukhoi. The aerial branch of the military also maintains a fleet of US-built Gulfstream and Boeing aircraft for VIP fleets.

But the government's new Airbus won't be flying the troops or the top brass anytime soon as the jet has one purpose: to be destroyed. The Directorate of Science and Technology will be taking delivery of the plane, intended for "commercial aircraft vulnerability testing" where the government studies the weaknesses of passenger aircraft, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The A321 is the latest in a string of aircraft acquisitions for destructive testing with the Boeing 737, Airbus A320, and Airbus A300 all prior subjects. But now, the focus is on the new arrival.

Here's why the Army wants an A321 to test so badly.

The Airbus A321 is the largest member of the popular A320 family.

The Airbus A320 family. AFP/Getty

Thanks to its medium-range capabilities with seating for up to 200, it's been a staple of European airlines like British Airways...

A British Airways Airbus A321. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty

Air France...

An Air France Airbus A321. PASCAL PAVANI/AFP/Getty

Lufthansa...

A Lufthansa Airbus A321. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty

And Alitalia.

An Alitalia Airbus A321. aviation images.com/Universal Images Group/Getty

In the US, the jet had a slow start but eventually became popular with major airlines like Delta Air Lines...

A Delta Air Lines Airbus A321. Bruce Bennett/Getty

American Airlines...

American Airlines Airbus A321s. AP

And JetBlue Airways.

A JetBlue Airways Airbus A321. Philip Pilosian / Shutterstock.com

Its main rivals are the American Boeing 737 and Boeing 757 aircraft, a small part of the cross-ocean rivalry between Airbus and Boeing.

A WestJet Boeing 737-800. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider

More recently, airlines have discovered the line of aircraft's long-range strengths and are starting to deploy it on transatlantic and intercontinental routes, as well.

A TAP Air Portugal Airbus A321. Horacio Villalobos/Corbis/Getty

But none of those reasons are why the US government is after the jet.

US Army Blackhawk helicopters. Getty Images

The government's desire is much simpler: it just wants one to blow up. And the service branch is very specific about its choice.

US Army explosives testing. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Keeler

For the government, it was either A321 or bust, with the justification document stating: "Only the Airbus model A321 aircraft will achieve the accurate and valid testing results necessary to provide uninterrupted and complete data for this portion of the commercial aircraft vulnerability test program."

An Alitalia Airbus A321. aviation images.com/Universal Images Group/Getty

For the government, it was either A321 or bust, with the justification document stating: "Only the Airbus model A321 aircraft will achieve the accurate and valid testing results necessary to provide uninterrupted and complete data for this portion of the commercial aircraft vulnerability test program."

As the A321 grows in popularity and market share, especially in the US, the government needs to dissect it to learn its vulnerabilities. All in the interest of "public safety."

An Airbus A321. Gilles BOUQUILLON/Gamma-Rapho/Getty

As the A321 grows in popularity and market share, especially in the US, the government needs to dissect it to learn its vulnerabilities. All in the interest of "public safety."

The US government has been doing this since 2001 as part of its Commercial Aircraft Vulnerability program that has been testing aircraft like the Boeing 737...

A Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider

Airbus A320...

An Airbus A320. AFP/Getty

Airbus A300...

An Airbus A300. aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group/Getty

And McDonnell Douglas DC-10.

A McDonnell Douglas DC-10. AP

Other aircraft currently undergoing testing include the Boeing 757...

A US Air Force Boeing 757. Holger Hollemann/picture alliance via Getty Images

Boeing 767...

A Boeing 767. AP

Boeing 777...

A Boeing 777. AP

And Boeing 747.

A Boeing 747. MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty

Though it already tested the smaller A320, the government needs to test the A321 due to important differences between the jets.

Airbus A320 family jets. AFP/Getty

According to the documents filed with the General Services Administration, "The A321 includes a stretched fuselage, wing modifications, and a different door configuration with a reinforced fuselage and undercarriage as compared to the Airbus A320 aircraft."

An Airbus A321. Thierry Tronnel/Corbis/Getty

According to the documents filed with the General Services Administration, "The A321 includes a stretched fuselage, wing modifications, and a different door configuration with a reinforced fuselage and undercarriage as compared to the Airbus A320 aircraft."

So the GSA decided to buy the A321 from Arkansas-based Aircraft Repair Technologies for $1,757,500. It was a great deal as a new A321 goes for $118.3 million.

An Airbus A321. ERIC PIERMONT/AFP/Getty

Surely it's just a coincidence that the purchase price includes the numbers "757," the name of Boeing's A321 competitor.

A Boeing 757. Reuter Raymond/Sygma/Getty

The jet will be delivered to the Aberdeen Testing Center at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland for "explosive vulnerability testing."

An Airbus A321. viation-images.com/Universal Images Group/Getty

The purchase is unique since the military sticks mainly to American products for procurement and acquisitions.

A Boeing KC-46 Pegasus. LINDSEY WASSON/Reuters

American planes and helicopters make up the majority in the military's fleet, with jets like the Boeing B-52 bomber...

A Boeing B-52 bomber. U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Ralph Hallmon/AP

McDonnell Douglas F-15 Strike Eagle...

McDonnell Douglas F-15 Strike Eagles. U.S Air Force photo by Senior Airmnan Jessica H. Smith

General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon...

A General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. Chiang Ying-ying/AP

Gulfstream C-37B...

A Gulfstream C-37B. Kenny Holston/US Air Force

Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules...

A Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules. US Air Force

Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk...

US Army Blackhawk helicopters. AP

And the most famous one, the Boeing VC-25A, also known as Air Force One when the president of the United States is onboard.

Air Force One. Chris Graythen/Getty

But the buy American rule is not universal, with the Department of Defense able to apply for waivers under the Buy American Act of 1933.

The Pentagon. Associated Press

Some foreign aircraft do make their way into the military's hangars but they're often built by US-based subsidiaries or in American factories.

A US Coast Guard Eurocopter MH-65 Dolphin. Auxiliarist David Lau/US Coast Guard

Airbus, for example, has a final assembly line plant in Mobile, Alabama to build A320 family aircraft.

Airbus' Mobile, Alabama final assembly line. Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

It was just expanded to include the A220 line.

Airbus' Mobile, Alabama final assembly line. Tad Denson - Airwind.com/Airbus

The European manufacturer also has a helicopter plant in Columbus, Mississippi and Grand Prairie, Texas, allowing it to sell the US government American-made rotorcraft.

An EC-135 helicopter. Frank Mächler / picture alliance/Getty

One of Airbus' latest attempts to get a US military contract was when it bid to supply the Air Force's new air-to-air refueler. Airbus pitched the A330 MRTT in partnership with Lockheed Martin.

An Airbus A330 MRTT. Airbus

One of Airbus' latest attempts to get a US military contract was when it bid to supply the Air Force's new air-to-air refueler. Airbus pitched the A330 MRTT in partnership with Lockheed Martin.

The contract, instead, went to Boeing for the KC-46 Pegasus.

A Boeing KC-46 Pegasus. Reuters

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in 2017 to strengthen the rules and limited the use of waivers to ensure American producers get top priority in government acquisitions.

President Donald Trump. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in 2017 to strengthen the rules and limited the use of waivers to ensure American producers get top priority in government acquisitions.

So while the military will get their A321 to perform destructive tests on, at least it will come from a US business.

An Airbus aircraft built in the US. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

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The US government spent $1.75 million on an Airbus A321 passenger jet just to blow it up — here's why

The Airbus A321 is the largest member of the popular A320 family.

Thanks to its medium-range capabilities with seating for up to 200, it's been a staple of European airlines like British Airways...

Air France...

Lufthansa...

And Alitalia.

In the US, the jet had a slow start but eventually became popular with major airlines like Delta Air Lines...

American Airlines...

And JetBlue Airways.

Its main rivals are the American Boeing 737 and Boeing 757 aircraft, a small part of the cross-ocean rivalry between Airbus and Boeing.

More recently, airlines have discovered the line of aircraft's long-range strengths and are starting to deploy it on transatlantic and intercontinental routes, as well.

But none of those reasons are why the US government is after the jet.

The government's desire is much simpler: it just wants one to blow up. And the service branch is very specific about its choice.

As the A321 grows in popularity and market share, especially in the US, the government needs to dissect it to learn its vulnerabilities. All in the interest of "public safety."

The US government has been doing this since 2001 as part of its Commercial Aircraft Vulnerability program that has been testing aircraft like the Boeing 737...

Airbus A320...

Airbus A300...

And McDonnell Douglas DC-10.

Other aircraft currently undergoing testing include the Boeing 757...

Boeing 767...

Boeing 777...

And Boeing 747.

Though it already tested the smaller A320, the government needs to test the A321 due to important differences between the jets.

According to the documents filed with the General Services Administration, "The A321 includes a stretched fuselage, wing modifications, and a different door configuration with a reinforced fuselage and undercarriage as compared to the Airbus A320 aircraft."

So the GSA decided to buy the A321 from Arkansas-based Aircraft Repair Technologies for $1,757,500. It was a great deal as a new A321 goes for $118.3 million.

Surely it's just a coincidence that the purchase price includes the numbers "757," the name of Boeing's A321 competitor.

The jet will be delivered to the Aberdeen Testing Center at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland for "explosive vulnerability testing."

The purchase is unique since the military sticks mainly to American products for procurement and acquisitions.

American planes and helicopters make up the majority in the military's fleet, with jets like the Boeing B-52 bomber...

McDonnell Douglas F-15 Strike Eagle...

General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon...

Gulfstream C-37B...

Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules...

Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk...

And the most famous one, the Boeing VC-25A, also known as Air Force One when the president of the United States is onboard.

But the buy American rule is not universal, with the Department of Defense able to apply for waivers under the Buy American Act of 1933.

Some foreign aircraft do make their way into the military's hangars but they're often built by US-based subsidiaries or in American factories.

Airbus, for example, has a final assembly line plant in Mobile, Alabama to build A320 family aircraft.

It was just expanded to include the A220 line.

The European manufacturer also has a helicopter plant in Columbus, Mississippi and Grand Prairie, Texas, allowing it to sell the US government American-made rotorcraft.

One of Airbus' latest attempts to get a US military contract was when it bid to supply the Air Force's new air-to-air refueler. Airbus pitched the A330 MRTT in partnership with Lockheed Martin.

The contract, instead, went to Boeing for the KC-46 Pegasus.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in 2017 to strengthen the rules and limited the use of waivers to ensure American producers get top priority in government acquisitions.

So while the military will get their A321 to perform destructive tests on, at least it will come from a US business.