Air Force Community - Air Force Times

Rescue for CSAR

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is considering a joint combat search-and-rescue mission — and the pilots and maintainers of the Air Force’s aging 100 HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters are understandably worried.

Gates mentioned the possibility of a joint CSAR force right after he recommended killing the Air Force’s long-suffering CSAR-X helicopter program. Morale in the Air Force’s rescue community nose-dived. One Pave Hawk pilot suggested Gates is confusing mission with acquisition.

Not true. The Air Force bungled the CSAR-X selection process and as a result left the oft-delayed, $15 billion program vulnerable when the budget ax was out.

As a separate issue, the Air Force still can rescue the CSAR mission from going joint. That will require clear demonstration of the cost benefits and operational advantages of sticking with the Air Force’s substantial and established in-house expertise and capabilities in this area. And that will take forceful leadership, something Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Secretary Michael Donley have not shown on this issue.

Similarly, if Gates were to designate CSAR as a joint mission, he should clearly justify in terms of costs and capabilities why it makes sense to strip it from the Air Force. Some Air Force CSAR personnel point out that other services often conduct rescue operations as conditions warrant, and that works well. They point out that the Air Force has developed unique capabilities that are highly valuable, including nighttime operations, high-altitude operations and medical evacuations that require special training, equipment — and aircraft.

Gates must demonstrate how combat search and rescue can be established as a joint mission without a setback in abilities to locate and bring home missing U.S. troops.