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Sikorsky S-92A to Replace Current US Presidential Marine One Helicopter Fleet

photo: Sikorsky Sikorsky S-92 helicopter has been selected to be the next fleet of US Presidential Marine One helicopters, replacing the ...

photo: Sikorsky
Sikorsky S-92 helicopter has been selected to be the next fleet of US Presidential Marine One helicopters, replacing the venerable Seaking and Black Hawk helicopter fleet.

Under the $1.24 billion Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract awarded by US Navy, Sikorsky will modify, test and deliver six FAA-certified S-92® helicopters and two trainer simulators to the U.S. Marine Corps.

The fixed price incentive firm contract is the initial step to provide a VXX Presidential Helicopter Replacement fleet totaling 21 operational aircraft by 2023.

Of the six contracted aircraft, two will be designated Engineering Development Models (EDM), enabling the Department of the Navy at Naval Air (NAVAIR) Station Patuxent River in Maryland to test the platform’s flight performance and mission communication system capabilities as certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. Sikorsky is contracted to deliver the two EDM aircraft during 2018.

The remaining four aircraft designated System Demonstration Test Articles (SDTA) will be used to perform operational test and evaluation, and then transitioned to operational status. Sikorsky will deliver two training simulators (one each for maintainers and pilots) ahead of aircraft deliveries in 2018.

“We are honored by this news and the vote of confidence in the Sikorsky team and the proven S-92 platform,” said Sikorsky President Mick Maurer. “For 57 years, our company has been trusted with the critical responsibility of building and supporting a safe and reliable helicopter fleet for the President of the United States. We are proud of our record and the bright future for our company. We stand ready to deliver the next Marine One, the world’s most advanced executive transport helicopter.”
Sikorsky submitted its VXX proposal for an existing, in-production helicopter platform to the Navy in August 2013, following a Request for Proposals in May 2013.

By early 2019, US Navy is expected to place orders for the first of three lots of 17 production aircraft. Sikorsky expects to complete delivery of these production aircraft by 2023.
The Sikorsky team will produce the aircraft in four distinct stages.
Assembly of the baseline “commercial off-the-shelf” flight-certified aircraft will occur at the company’s S-92 production facility in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia.
At a secure facility in its Stratford, Connecticut, headquarters, Sikorsky will perform aircraft modifications to meet the requirements of the presidential mission.
Later, at a secure facility in Owego, New York principal subcontractor Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training will install the integrated communications and mission systems.
When aircraft are returned to Stratford, Sikorsky will install the presidential interior into the 6-foot-high by 20-foot-long by 6.5-foot-wide cabin, and deliver the completed aircraft to the U.S. Navy.

The U.S. Marine Corps currently operates eleven VH-3D and eight VH-60N helicopters; the VH-3Ds were originally placed in service in 1974, and the VH-60s entered service in the 1980s.

A previous effort to replace these aircraft, under the VH-71 program, was initiated in 2003. This program was terminated in 2009 due to extensive cost and schedule growth.