Light weight fighter

Textron, ( parent of Cessna and Bell helicoptor) and a new company Airland, are developing a new light jet fighter, called Scorpion, on their own money.  Scorpion is a big step up from the turbo prop Super Tuscano light fighter in terms of range, payload and speed.  It's main claim to fame will be low cost per flying hour.  Textron-Airland is claiming $3000 per flying hour, which is cheap cheap cheap compared to $24,899 per flying hour for an F-16.  For missions in friendly airspace (Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, South America) where the supersonic speed and huge payload of  advanced fighters isn't needed,  it could be a winner. 
  The aircraft is a twin engine, two seat, smallish aircraft, capable of lifting 10,000 pounds of bombs and rockets, 2400 mile ferry range, with a modest top speed of 430 knots.  The Viet Nam era F105 Thunderchief usually flew with only 4500 pounds of bombs, which makes the Scorpion a heavy duty bomber.  With its modest top speed, Scorpion is dead meat against enemy fighters, but if the enemy doesn't have fighters, it's home free. 
   Can they sell Scorpion to USAF?  It will be a tough sell.  USAF is run by fighter pilots who want to buy the hottest fighter possible.  These are combat veterans who all have memories of that time when a little extra speed or altitude or firepower saved their lives.  Guys like this don't like to buy second best any thing, they want to buy only the best.  Then there is the budget crunch.  USAF is short on money and looking around for things to cut to stay in business.  The thought of  sacrificing some F-35 money, and some F-35's, to get mixed up with a low performance light weight fighter isn't going to be attractive.  Textron-Airland is going to have to pitch the Scorpion to the Pentagon bean counters, who like cheap cheap cheap, rather than Air Force officers. 
   If USAF buys some, then it can be sold overseas.  Overseas buyers look on USAF acceptance as a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.  If the Americans will fly it, it's got to be OK.  If the Americans aren't flying it, its probably a death trap.