The list of potential offerors for a new combat rescue tanker aircraft to augment Air Force Special Operations Command’s combat search and rescue vehicle—CSAR-X—is continuing to grow. (DR 11/16/05) Joining the C-27J, according to Flight International, probably will be the EADS Casa C-295 and Airbus A400M and, possibly, the Lockheed Martin KC-130J. AFSOC doesn’t expect to start acquisition of the CRT until 2008. It is on tap to hold an industry day next month, though.
The Air Force is planning to spend $2.19 billion over the next five years to acquire new C-37 jets for transporting military and civilian leaders. That’s on top of another $1.17 billion in projected funding for the VC-25B “Air Force One” replacement.