According to a May 6 report by Reuters news service, Boeing expects to win the combat search and rescue helicopter replacement program for the second time not only because it had the best proposal the first time around, but because it now has an even stronger one. A company executive told Reuters that Boeing had trimmed the price and the time it takes to reassemble its HH-47. All three competitors—Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Sikorsky—submitted new proposals in January, but the Air Force just this monthissued Amendment 6 to the request for proposals, clarifying certain points, including new legislation about specialty metals. The program award now is delayed until fall. Rick Lemaster, Boeing HH-47 program manager, told Reuters that the new Boeing bid is “stronger.” Meanwhile, Lockheed and Sikorsky, no doubt, have spruced up their offerings, as well.
More than two dozen F-35 Lightning II fighters are heading to Kingsley Field, Ore., after Air Force Secretary Troy Meink signed the official record of decision to base the jets there on Oct. 5, clearing the last bureaucratic hurdle for the Air National Guard base to host the service’s third…