Wednesday afternoon the Air Force acknowledged that it had released its amended final request for proposals on the combat search and rescue replacement aircraft program. In its statement, the service indicated that it had met with each of the original three offerors and had exchanged “questions and comments” in what officials have consistently described as an “open and transparent process.” In an apparent attempt to deflect some of the criticism that has focused on lack of warfighter input, the statement also notes that “experienced Air Force combat search and rescue personnel, both aircrews and maintainers, have been involved in every step of the acquisition process.” USAF expects to complete evaluation of new proposals from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Sikorsky in the fall.
As commercial companies, universities, and research agencies develop new approaches to operating satellites at lower and lower altitudes, the Space Force is taking notice and considering how it might leverage those advances in both the near and long term.