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.
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.