Posted on 01/28/2005 3:10:45 PM PST by Cornpone
The Department of Defense announced today that the team led by Lockheed Martin Systems Integration, Owego, N.Y., has been selected to build the new presidential helicopter (VXX) based on its U.S. 101 medium lift helicopter.
This $1.7 billion, cost plus award fee contract will launch the VXX program’s system development and demonstration phase during which the program will integrate a “system of systems” with a modern, in-production aircraft to provide the president with safe and reliable helicopter transportation.
“Today’s announcement is a significant milestone that caps an exhaustive and deliberative source selection process that carefully followed the Federal Acquisition Regulations,” said John Young, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition. “The determined effort, long hours and hard work by both the VXX government team and the two industry teams will ensure a high level of quality and safety for future presidents, as well as a timely, efficient and effective program execution.”
“This decision truly reflects the best value and capability for the American taxpayer who is funding it, the Marines who will operate it and the future presidents who will fly in it,” Young added.
The fleet of helicopters that currently supports the presidential mission includes 30-year old aircraft that were designed in the 1960’s, fielded in the 1970’s and no longer has the growth capability to incorporate the equipment necessary to provide suitable presidential support in the post 9-11 environment.
“Under this replacement program, with its technology and performance improvements, a single platform will provide better savings in total ownership costs, engineering, maintenance and logistical support over the lifetime of the program,” Young said. “The president needs a more survivable helicopter while the nation engages in the Global War on Terrorism, and we are committed to providing it as soon as possible.”
The original Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program of record proposed an initial operating capability in 2013. The VXX program was accelerated in 2003 with a currently planned IOC in fiscal year 2009.
For more information, please contact Navy Public Affairs at (703) 697-5342.
BTW, I thought you lived back east? Didn't you get in a minor altercation with some local politician in Boston or some place back east?
I can name more than just a '3rd':
C-23 SHERPA (US Army/National Guard) successor to the C-23 might also be based on a foreign design C-27J (G.222)
RC-7 (US Army)
CN-235 (USCG)The USCG was also interested in the C-27J
CASA-212 (US Army/Special Forces)
Developments of foreign equpment still in service include Harrier II and T-45 Goshawk (UK). T-6 Texan.II This was developed from the Swiss PC-9 and is the primary trainer for the USAF/Navy. T-1A Jayhawk used by the US military is developed from the Japanese Mitsubishi MU-300 Diamanond
The ERJ-145 from Brazil will be the platform for the US Army's new Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) battlefield surveillance system. This Brazilian aircraft will also be the replacement platform for the US Navy's EP-3E.
I meant from here, the east, to California.
Yeah, got sued by a local pol, he recently decided to drop the charges.
You're correct. 750 jobs to the Lockheed Martin plant in upstate NY. It's being assembled there. Lockheed will soon begin work on a $30 million, 176,000-square-foot facility to house its presidential helicopter program. Hiring the first of hundreds that are expected to work on the copter could begin as soon as Monday.
Good gravy, man. If you find a source for that information, the protectionists here will self-immolate.
A better safety record than both the F-14 and F/A-18 did during their respective flight testing. Both of those aircraft have turned out to be solid performers.
You want the President to continue flying on 30+ year old helicopters? Any idea how many maintenance man hours(MMH) those VH-3s, which Sikorsky no longer builds, at HMX-1 require for every hour they are in flight?
It is a fleet of 23 helicopters, so I figure 73 million per copy. Can I have one? They are building it about 8 miles from from me. Great boost to this upstate New York area.
30 years old design is thoughly tested isn't it? They could reproduce new ones off the old plans. They already have bug worked out sees like a safer ride than something new that you really know nothing about.
Negative. HMX-1 bases all of its helicopters at Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico, Virgina and Anacostia Naval Station Washington, DC.
please elaborate:
hmx-1?
and
who makes the VH-60N?
thanks.
The design is more than 30 years old. Sikorsky no longer builds them. Parts are extremely expensive for helicopters, or just about anything else, that are no longer built. You can't go out to Davis-Monthan and pull parts off of retired SH-3s, if there are any of them there, and send them to Qunatico for installation on the fleet of VH-3s used to shuttle the President et al. Airframes are approaching the end of their service lives. As aircraft age increases the time required to maintain them does as well, usually exponentially.
They could reproduce new ones off the old plans.
How much do you think Sikorsky would milk the taxpayer for restarting a production line; new jigs, tooling, workers, managers, etc. for an obsolete helicopter?
Less than what they are spending no the british/italy design...
Marine Helicopter Squadron One aka HMX-1.
who makes the VH-60N?
Sikorsky. The VH-60N Whitehawk is the executive transport version of the UH-60 Blackhawk.
You obviously haven't spent much, if any, time dealing with the folks at Sikorsky/United Technologies.
so sikorsky is not really being cut out entirely.
Ah Ha!
I was traveling on the ferry from NYC to Weehawken earlier this fall and these 2 helicopters took off from the pad on 28th street on the Hudson river just as we left the dock.
It was a nice day any many of us were on the top deck. These things flew right over us north up the Hudson River and they are BIG!
I remember thinking I never saw this type of helicopter before and now I know... "the rest of the story!"
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