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Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program (VXX)
VH-60N over Washington, D.C.
Project for presidential transport helicopter
Requirement VXX Mission Needs Statement (16 September 1999)[1]
Issued by United States Navy[2]
Value $US 11.2 billion prior to cancellation[3]
Date initiated 18 December 2003 (RFP)[4]
Proposals Lockheed Martin UH-101, Sikorsky VH-92[5]
Date concluded 6 April 2009[6]
Outcome Cancelled; new RFI issued[7]

VXX 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 U.S. 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.[citation needed]

In 2002, it was proposed to replace the current helicopters. The U.S. Department of Defense issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on 18 December 2003 for the supply of 23 helicopters to replace the 11 VH-3Ds and 8 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 28 January 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.[9] The Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland AW101-based US101 bid was given the military designation VH-71 Kestrel in mid-2005.[10]

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 $11.2 billion, or roughly $400 million per helicopter.[3][11] 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.[12] On April 6, 2009, Gates announced the ending of VH-71 funding.[6]

In February 2010, the Navy issued a request for information to the aviation industry. Responses will 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 is considering a US-built licensed version of the AgustaWestland AW101, which the VH-71 was based. Boeing is also considering the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey and Boeing CH-47 Chinook for the presidential VXX program.[15][16][17] Whichever platform is picked will be expected to be delivered between 2017 and 2023.[18]


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, 7 April 2005, p.5.
  2. ^ Naval Air Systems Command "VXX Program System Development & Demonstration (SDD) Phase", 26 August 2003.
  3. ^ a b Cost Nearly Doubles For Marine One Fleet. Washington Post
  4. ^ Cortes, Lorenzo. "Navy Issues Formal RFP For Presidential Transport Replacement". Defense Daily, 22 December 2003.
  5. ^ Cortes, Lorenzo. "Navy Likely To Delay VXX Decision Until Next Year". Defense Daily, 17 November 2004.
  6. ^ a b http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30071664/
  7. ^ a b Trimble, Stephen. "New VXX competition reveals changes for US presidential helicopter". Flight International, 18 February 2010.
  8. ^ "VH-3D Sea King helicopter". US Navy, 20 February 2009.
  9. ^ "Lockheed Martin to Build New Presidential Helicopter". U.S. Department of Defense January 28, 2005
  10. ^ "US101 (VH-71A) All Weather Medium Lift Military Helicopter, USA / Europe". Airforce-technology.com. Retrieved: 28 June 2010.
  11. ^ "Executive Branch Strikes VH-71 Deal". Aerospace Daily and Defense Report, 17 March 2008.
  12. ^ "Obama mulls chopping costs on helicopter fleet". AFP. Yahoo! News. February 24, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-24. [dead link]
  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, 19 April 2010.
  15. ^ Fein, Geoff. "Bell-Boeing V-22 Latest Entry For Navy's Presidential Helo RFI". Defense Daily, 21 April 2010. subscription article.
  16. ^ Reed, John (May 5, 2010). "Boeing to make new multiyear Osprey offer". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  17. ^ "Boeing says AW101 one of its three options for VXX". FlightGlobal.com. 6 June 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  18. ^ Sanborn, James K. (May 11, 2011). "New helos, Osprey heading for HMX-1". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved May 13, 2011.

External links

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