The Connecticut-based Sikorsky has filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office over the Air Force’s modus operandi for re-competing the combat search and rescue helicopter replacement program, making the protest picture complete since Lockheed Martin filed a new protest last week. Sikorsky spokesman Paul Jackson told the Connecticut Post, “Our original concern remains that the Air Force is not fully considering the complete merits of the individual aircraft platforms.” The GAO reportedly has indicated it can perform a speedy resolution of the latest protests.
Air Force leaders expect all six KC-135 Stratotankers that were damaged but not destroyed as part of Operation Epic Fury will eventually be repaired and returned to service. Some of those damaged KC-135s are already flying again, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, said, but the most heavily…