Industry officials are rolling out their candidates for the Air Force’s CSAR-X—the new aircraft to replace the service’s elderly HH-60 Pave Hawk combat search and rescue helicopters. Boeing is offering the HH-47, a version of its CH-47 Chinook helicopter, as a combat-proven technology. Lockheed Martin plans to enter the American version of the AgustaWestland EH-101, the US101, which won the Marine One contract. Sikorsky offers its HH-92 Super Hawk. The Air Force has yet to issue a formal request for proposals.
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…