The U.S. Marine Corps is kicking off the first phase of its MUX development strategy and conducting a prize challenge for industry.

“I’m not really sure I would call it a policy reversal. We are in a budget process and they call it a budget process for a reason,” Navy undersecretary Thomas Modly told reporters here May 7.

The readiness rate for the MV-22 Osprey is at a dismal 52% and will not hit the target of 80% set by former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis “soon enough,” according to the program manager.