Air Force officials continue to push the need to acquire a replacement aircraft for the service’s fleet of worn-down HH-60 combat search and rescue helicopters. Maj. Gen. Stanley Gorenc, the air staff’s director of operational capability requirements, told lawmakers yesterday that the new CSAR force must have greater range and improved survivability, not to mention room for more passengers. At the House Armed Services subcommittee hearing on tactical air, Gorenc asserted, “We really do need that capability.” Congress late last year indicated it was not sold on USAF’s approach and directed the service to provide a detailed report of “cost and schedule estimates.” Pentagon acquisition guru Ken Krieg also wants to see the big picture. Gorenc said the 2007 budget requests money for block 0 aircraft—not the full-up capability. That comes later. (Read his written testimony here.)
Navy CCA Program’s Shape Coming into Focus
Oct. 17, 2025
In announcing its Navy Collaborative Combat Aircraft contract, General Atomics has provided some clues as to where the service is heading with its version of an armed, autonomous fighter escort. It will likely be quite different from the Air Force version.
