Le Bourget, France —The Air Force expects to move out shortly on its Common Vertical Lift Support Platform helicopter replacement effort, David Van Buren, USAF acquisition executive, said here Tuesday at the Paris Air Show. He noted that there are many potential competitors for the program, and told the international audience that they should be heartened by the fact that the Air Force is willing to look at foreign offerings, as it did on the KC-X tanker program and with the C-27J transport. Likewise, a request for proposal for a new rescue helicopter will go out in 2012, and Van Buren expects the contract award for that platform in 2013.
A Golden Dome task force established under U.S. Northern Command earlier this year has a broad remit, which includes fielding the capability to defend the U.S. against missile and drone attacks, its leaders said this week. Some of the primary focuses right now are ensuring Golden Dome can defend itself…