HH-47 wins CSAR-X contract

From Defense Aerospace

Air Force Selects Developer for Combat Search And Rescue Replacement Vehicle

(Source: US Air Force; issued Nov. 9, 2006)

WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The Honorable Michael W. Wynne, Secretary of the Air Force, announced today the selection of Boeing Co., Boeing Helicopter, Ridley Park, Pa. to provide the new Combat Search and Rescue Replacement Vehicle, also known as CSAR-X.

The announcement comes at the end of a fair and open competition, and thorough evaluation of multiple proposals allowing the Air Force to fulfill its number two acquisition priority.

"The Air Force is the only service with forces dedicated to the critical mission of combat search and rescue," said Gen Moseley. "We take that mission seriously and this new CSAR platform will greatly benefit all service members who perform vital work deep in hostile, uncertain or enemy territory."

The CSAR-X is a medium-lift helicopter that will replace the Air Force's fleet of HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which are quickly approaching their useful service life limit.

The primary mission of the CSAR-X will be to recover downed aircrew and isolated personnel in a combat environment. Rescue forces may also conduct missions such as non-conventional assisted recovery, evacuations of non-combatants, civil search and rescue, international aid, emergency medical evacuation, disaster/humanitarian relief, and insertion/extraction of combat forces.

"The increased capabilities that CSAR-X will provide our joint force commanders and future civil disaster needs is tremendous," said Gen Moseley. "From Operations in Iraq, to Afghanistan, to civil support during Hurricane Katrina, Air Force rescue forces do amazing things to ensure that others may live."

The CSAR-X will be designed to deploy quickly and to operate out of austere locations worldwide. Additionally, the Combat Search and Rescue mission requires the helicopter to operate in the day or night during adverse weather conditions and in a variety of spectrums of warfare to include Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) environments. On-board defensive capabilities with armor will permit the CSAR-X to operate and survive in a higher threat environment than legacy systems.

The CSAR-X program office plans to procure 141 HH-47 aircraft with associated training and logistics support. The Air Force plans to achieve Initial Operational Capability (IOC) with its first ten new CSAR aircraft by the end of 2012. (ends)

Pentagon Contract Announcement

(Source: US Department of Defense; issued Nov. 9, 2006)

Boeing Co., Boeing Helicopter, Ridley Park, Pa., is being awarded a $712,156,535 cost-plus-award fee/incentive fee contract. This initial contract award is for Block 0 System Development and Demonstration (SDD).

The Combat Search and Rescue Replacement Vehicle (CSAR-X) program is an evolutionary acquisition of a non-developmental, medium lift, vertical take-off and landing aircraft that replaces the HH-60G pave Hawk Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) aircraft and its attendant training and support systems.

The CSAR-X weapon system will correct the shortfalls of the HH-60G, be rapidly deployable, and be capable of operations at a main base or austere locations worldwide.

At this time$3,000,000 have been obligated. Solicitations began October 2005 and negotiations were complete September 2006. This work will be complete fourth quarter FY 2012 initial operational capability.

Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8629-07-C-2372). (ends)

Boeing Awarded U.S. Air Force Combat Search and Rescue Contract

(Source: Boeing Co.; issued Nov. 9, 2006)

ST. LOUIS --- The Boeing Company's HH-47 helicopter has been selected by the U.S. Air Force as the winner of the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) program competition.

"The CSAR award is a vote of confidence by the Air Force in the ability of Boeing to provide them the rotorcraft they need for this very important mission," said Jim Albaugh, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. "Backed by our decades of experience in rotorcraft design, production and systems integration, the HH-47 will rapidly deploy versatile rescue capability to even the most challenging combat rescue situations."

The CSAR program calls for initial operational capability of the HH-47 aircraft in 2012. Under the program, which is valued at up to $10 billion, Boeing will build 141 production aircraft and four test aircraft at its Rotorcraft Systems manufacturing facility in Ridley Park, Pa., also home to the MH-47G Special Operations and CH-47F Chinook programs.

"Boeing is delighted that the Air Force has selected the HH-47 for its new Combat Search and Rescue platform," said Mike Tkach, vice president and general manager of Boeing Rotorcraft Systems. "We believe our proposal provided the best combination of capability and cost."

"We are ready to produce and deliver this outstanding aircraft to the Air Force, on-time and on-cost," said Rick Lemaster, CSAR program manager.

CSAR-X is a U.S. Air Force initiative to procure more capable and survivable aircraft able to recover isolated personnel from hostile or denied territory. The tandem rotor, heavy-lift, high-altitude HH-47 is based on the CH/MH-47 Chinook transport helicopter, with performance capabilities that have been widely demonstrated in the ongoing global war on terrorism and in numerous U.S. and international humanitarian relief operations.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $30.8 billion business. It provides network-centric system solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer; a foremost developer of advanced concepts and technologies; a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense and Department of Homeland Security; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in sustainment solutions and launch services.