New York Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer has joined other lawmakers, including Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-New York), to ask the Air Force to be more open in its new review of proposals for the combat search and rescue helicopter replacement program. The Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin reports that Schumer believes USAF may yet apply a too narrow view and simply re-award the contract to Boeing. Air Force officials have said they plan to reopen discussions with all three original bidders, including Owego, N.Y.-based Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems and Sikorsky, and review revised proposals. USAF could take back the award to Boeing made last fall. McCain is questioning the Air Force about perceived changes to warfighter requirements. Clinton and other New York lawmakers wrote to USAF last month urging a full reevaluation of the award.
The Pentagon's research labs are ramping up their search for munitions that can be mass-produced—an effort likely to be buoyed by billions of dollars in the department's new fiscal 2027 budget request and tens of billions in the upcoming years. While the topline information shared about the President’s defense budget…