Combat Rescue - Pararescue

Combat Rescue - Pararescue is a part of the Air Force's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation budget activity. The program aims to enhance the Guardian Angel (GA) weapon system used by Combat Rescue Officers and Pararescuemen to execute Air Force Personnel Recovery across various military operations. The program's specific objectives include standardizing, modernizing, and developing additional capabilities for the GA weapon system. This involves efforts to improve precision aerial insertion, information management, force application, visual augmentation, maritime recovery, ground mobility, technical rescue, medical support, and survival training. The program also focuses on meeting SECAF Operational Imperatives and OSD Focus Area C2 by obtaining significant improvements in operational capability and developing items within the GA Family of Systems.

The program's planned activities include completing studies, strategic planning, development activities for increased capability, necessary software upgrades to the Special Warfare Assault Kit (SWAK) information management system, testing for SECAF OI & OSD Focus Area for Resilient Basing Agile Combat Employment, and conducting development and system enhancements on existing and future systems through incorporating test feedback and user inputs into subsequent iterations for better capability and mission success. The budget decrease in FY 2024 is attributed to higher Air Force priorities. Additionally, the program includes innovation activities such as studies, analyses, requirements definition, and quick-reaction capability prototypes/demonstrations to accelerate planning for technology transition and future acquisition programs. Overall, the program aims to deliver enhanced capability for Guardian Angel Operators while addressing warfighter immediate needs and future requirements through an incremental evolutionary acquisition effort.