The Air Force will choose a winner in its CSAR-X competition in February, service Secretary Michael Wynne told the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday. (UPDATE: Since then USAF officials have indicated it would be summer 2008 before the service makes a new award.) The Air Force reopened the protest-plagued program to allow the original bidders to submit new cost and performance data. Wynne said the language in “Amendment Five” of the request for proposals went out Tuesday, and contractors will have 21 days to look it over and offer comments. If no one objects, the final version will be released in November, and bidders will have 60 days to respond, Wynne said. After two successful protests, the Air Force is bending over backwards to accommodate contractors because it wants to get on with the program and avoid any further delay.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. has flown a second YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft, stepping up the pace of testing for the new uncrewed fighter escort. The company also announced “Gambit 6,” a fresh variant in its CCA family meant for air-to-ground missions.
