According to a May 6 report by Reuters news service, Boeing expects to win the combat search and rescue helicopter replacement program for the second time not only because it had the best proposal the first time around, but because it now has an even stronger one. A company executive told Reuters that Boeing had trimmed the price and the time it takes to reassemble its HH-47. All three competitors—Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Sikorsky—submitted new proposals in January, but the Air Force just this monthissued Amendment 6 to the request for proposals, clarifying certain points, including new legislation about specialty metals. The program award now is delayed until fall. Rick Lemaster, Boeing HH-47 program manager, told Reuters that the new Boeing bid is “stronger.” Meanwhile, Lockheed and Sikorsky, no doubt, have spruced up their offerings, as well.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.