Air Force officials say the service plans to purchase 141 combat search and rescue aircraft—called CSAR-X, for now—to replace its current force of 101 HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. Lt. Col. Dave Morgan, CSAR program element monitor, told reporters that USAF had released a formal request for proposal and expected to announce a contract award in May. The program is valued at $10 billion.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…