Various news reports Wednesday claimed that the Air Force has decided to let the combat search and rescue helicopter replacement program award remain with Boeing, while others claimed that the service planned to resolicit all three original competitors—Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky—but not reopen the competition to the world. Apparently there was some confusion about comments from Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne following a Tuesday Capitol Hill hearing. An Air Force spokesperson told Daily Report Wednesday, “We are not reopening the competition, and we’re committed to working closely with the GAO to resolve any issues and get the Air Force a CSAR aircraft as soon as possible.” That rules out a brand new competition, but does not rule out sticking with Boeing or taking a fresh look at all three proposals.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
