The Pentagon won’t continue the CSAR-X combat search and rescue helicopter program and has cut $144 million that had been planned for the aircraft in Fiscal 2010. In announcing the CSAR-X termination April 6, Defense Secretary Robert Gates questioned the need for a single-service, single-purpose program. The $89 million left in the fiscal 2010 budget request will be used for “a requirements review,” presumably after the need for the CSAR mission is settled in the just-commenced Quadrennial Defense Review. Because the Air Force hasn’t been replacing any of its combat-loss or retired MH-60G Pave Hawks—it has been waiting for the new aircraft—the service will start upgrading the existing fleet and will buy two new UH-60 Black Hawks through the Army to supplement what’s left.
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.