The Air Force has formally released Amendment 5 to its request for proposals on the combat search and rescue helicopter replacement program. It released a draft version in October to provide an opportunity for “face-to-face meetings” to ensure “mutual understanding” on the controversial CSAR-X program, according to an Air Force statement. The three contenders—Boeing, which won the original award last year, Lockheed Martin, and Sikorsky—have until mid-January to submit revised RFPs. This third go-round the door is wide open; the Air Force is allowing competitors to update any portion of their proposals. And, the service has added Army, Navy, and DOD reps to its source selection team. Service officials now don’t expect to make a new contract award before summer.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.