Air Force officials say the service plans to purchase 141 combat search and rescue aircraft—called CSAR-X, for now—to replace its current force of 101 HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. Lt. Col. Dave Morgan, CSAR program element monitor, told reporters that USAF had released a formal request for proposal and expected to announce a contract award in May. The program is valued at $10 billion.
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.