To explain why a particular formal governmental decision was made. •. it is necessary to identify the games and players, to display the coalitions, bargains, and compromises, and to convey some feel for the confusion. Graham T. Allison in Essence of Decision (2, t46) To procure a new major weapons system, one might envision an orderly process of articulating a need based on a scenario and a threat, identifying candidates to fulfill that need, selecting the best, and then negotiating a prlce

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... the winning contractor. And, in fact, this process has been followed--at times, but not always. The decision to produce the F-16 "Fighting Falcon" for the US Air Force was not a solution discovered by detached analysts focusing coolly on the problem. Rather, the explanation really lies In a complex game of negotiations, bargaining, and deals Involving a number of influential players within the government, in industry, and overseas. This paper analyzes this "game"--a procurement decision that was an outcome of bureaucratic politics. We v~ill review the factors leading up to the decision, look at the players involved, then analyze the process which brought these players into a final decision.