Regarding the CSAR-X award protests, the Government Accountability Office told the Daily Report Monday that it expects to receive a report from the Air Force in December and believes the GAO review will run right up to the established due date of late February. GAO still is carrying the Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin-Agusta Westland protests as separate cases—that could change. Meanwhile, an Air Force spokesman said the service would have no comment on the combat search and rescue aircraft award during the GAO review.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
