A joint venture between L-3 Communications subsidiary Integrated Systems and Alenia North American is offering the C-27J Spartan medium tactical airlifter to the Air Force as a potential combat rescue tanker. The Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla., and Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, just launched a market research effort for the CRT last month. The CRT would augment or replace the current fleet of special operations HC-130 and MC-130 refuelers. Among requirements for a CRT aircraft is the ability to refuel AFSOC’s new CV-22 tilt-rotor and CSAR-X aircraft. The C-27J is also competing for the Army’s Future Cargo Aircraft program.
Members of Congress from both parties expressed frustration and dismay over the abrupt and still-unexplained firing last month of Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh from his dual role as head of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency.