VXX

Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program (VXX)
VH-60N over Washington, D.C.
Project for presidential transport helicopter
Requirement VXX Mission Needs Statement (September 16, 1999)[1]
Issued by United States Navy [2]
Service United States Marine Corps
Value $US 11.2 billion prior to cancellation[3]
Date initiated December 18, 2003 (RFP)[4]
Proposals Lockheed Martin UH-101, Sikorsky VH-92[5]
Prototypes Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel
Date concluded April 6, 2009[6]
Outcome Round 1: Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel selected for production, but result protested, VH-71 canceled[7]
Round 2: Sikorsky VH-92

VXX, officially the Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program, is a procurement program to replace aging Marine One helicopters that transport the President of the United States. The current VH-3 helicopters have aging airframes, having entered service with United States Marine Corps Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) in 1963. The VH-3D replaced the VH-3A by 1976.[8] The smaller VH-60N was ordered beginning in 1989. On 7 May 2014, it was announced that the Sikorsky S-92 had won the VXX competition.[9]

History

In 2002, it was proposed to replace the current helicopters. The U.S. Department of Defense issued a request for proposals (RFP) on December 18, 2003 for the supply of 23 helicopters to replace the eleven VH-3Ds and eight VH-60Ns of USMC HMX-1 squadron. This requirement was given the designation VXX (V being the prefix for VIP aircraft and XX representing the then unspecified numerical part of the designation).

Both AgustaWestland and Sikorsky responded to the RFP. Sikorsky proposed the VH-92, a variant of the H-92 Superhawk. On January 28, 2005 the Department of Defense announced that it had selected the US101 for the VXX program. The US101 team was awarded a US$1.7 billion contract for the VXX system development and demonstration (SDD) phase.[10] The Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland AW101-based US101 bid was given the military designation VH-71 Kestrel in mid-2005.[11]

The replacement cost of the fleet was estimated at $6.1 billion when the VH-71 contracts were signed in 2005. However, by March 2008 the cost of the new 28 helicopter fleet was projected to total US$11.2 billion, or roughly US$400 million per helicopter.[3][12] Political controversy began in February 2009 amid calls for fiscal restraint, and, as a result, President Barack Obama announced that he had instructed Defense Secretary Robert Gates to review the helicopter situation and on 6 April 2009, Gates announced the ending of VH-71 funding, after nine aircraft had already been built at a cost of about US$600 million each.[6]

In February 2010, the U.S. Navy issued a request for information (RFI) to the aviation industry. Responses would be used to restart the VXX contest.[7] In April 2010, Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin announced they would team in offering the VH-92.[13][14] In June, Boeing announced it was considering a licensed version of the AgustaWestland AW101, on which the VH-71 was based, to be built in the United States. Boeing was also considering the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey and Boeing CH-47 Chinook for the presidential VXX program.[15][16][17] Whichever platform were picked would be expected to be delivered between 2017 and 2023.[18]

On November 23, 2012, Naval Air Systems Command released a draft request for proposals for a new VXX program.[19] The new requirements lowered the number of people the helicopter had to carry, shortened its range, and simplified its communications. By mid-2013, Boeing, Bell Helicopter and AgustaWestland declined to take part in the project. Only Sikorsky seemed likely to bid on the VXX contract.[20]

On 7 May 2014, the Navy announced that the Sikorsky S-92 had won the VXX competition, ahead of other potential competitors who decided not to submit a proposal.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Balderson, William; Thomas Laux; and Martin Post "FY 2006 Marine Corps Major Rotorcraft Programs", statement before the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, April 7, 2005, p.5.
  2. ↑ Naval Air Systems Command "VXX Program System Development & Demonstration (SDD) Phase", August 26, 2003.
  3. 1 2 Cost Nearly Doubles For Marine One Fleet. Washington Post
  4. ↑ Cortes, Lorenzo. "Navy Issues Formal RFP For Presidential Transport Replacement". Defense Daily, December 22, 2003.
  5. ↑ Cortes, Lorenzo. "Navy Likely To Delay VXX Decision Until Next Year". Defense Daily, November 17, 2004.
  6. 1 2 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30071664/
  7. 1 2 Trimble, Stephen. "New VXX competition reveals changes for US presidential helicopter". Flight International, February 18, 2010.
  8. ↑ "VH-3D Sea King helicopter". US Navy, February 20, 2009.
  9. 1 2 Majumdar, Dave (7 May 2014). "Sikorsky Wins $1.24 Billion Contract for Presidential Helo". United States Naval Institute. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  10. ↑ "Lockheed Martin to Build New Presidential Helicopter". U.S. Department of Defense January 28, 2005
  11. ↑ "US101 (VH-71A) All Weather Medium Lift Military Helicopter, USA / Europe". Airforce-technology.com. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Executive Branch Strikes VH-71 Deal". Aerospace Daily and Defense Report, March 17, 2008.
  13. ↑ "Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin Announce Teaming Agreement to Compete for the VXX Presidential Helicopter Program". Lockheed Martin
  14. ↑ Cavas, Christopher P. "Former Competitors Join Forces for Helo Program". Defense News, April 19, 2010.
  15. ↑ Fein, Geoff. "Bell-Boeing V-22 Latest Entry For Navy's Presidential Helo RFI". Defense Daily, April 21, 2010. subscription article.
  16. ↑ Reed, John (May 5, 2010). "Boeing to make new multiyear Osprey offer". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Boeing says AW101 one of its three options for VXX". Flight International. June 6, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  18. ↑ Sanborn, James K. (May 11, 2011). "New helos, Osprey heading for HMX-1". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  19. ↑ "New-U-S-Presidential-Helicopter-Program-Kicks-Off". Cavas, Christopher P., Defense News, 23 November 2012.
  20. ↑ Drew, Christopher. "Few Suitors to Build a New Marine One". The New York Times, 29 July 2013.

External links

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