The Air Force has yet to decide whether it will accede to the Government Accountability Office recommendation to re-compete the combat search and rescue replacement helicopter program awarded to Boeing last fall, much to the surprise and dismay of Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky. However, the only official statement so far indicates USAF does not necessarily think a new CSAR-X competition will be necessary when it applies “the intent” of GAO’s recommendations “more narrowly.” The Air Force says it needs more time “ to fully review the details” before it can “determine an appropriate plan of action.”
The Senate passed Republicans’ sweeping tax-and-spending package July 1 in a 51-50 vote, the culmination of a 27-hour marathon legislative session. The package—often called the reconciliation bill—includes a $150 billion package of defense funds that accounts for a significant portion of the money the Air Force and Space Force want…