Air Force Issues Draft Solicitation for Future Rescue Helicopter

The Air Force released the draft request for proposal for its Combat Rescue Helicopter, the planned replacement for its aging HH-60G Pave Hawk platform. According to the notification of the release, the Air Force is scheduled to host an industry day with prospective bidders on Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio. It has requested industry feedback to the draft RFP by April 9. The draft document is not publicly accessible, but the Air Force’s 2012 posture statement (caution, large-sized file), issued at the end of February, sheds light on the path ahead. “The Air Force remains committed to modernizing crucial combat search and rescue capabilities,” reads the posture statement. The CRH program, it adds, “remains on track to produce a replacement for the HH-60G through a full and open competition, with initial operational capability planned for Fiscal 2018.” The Air Force included funds in its Fiscal 2013 budget request to purchase two CRH test aircraft, according to the posture statement.