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"The White House has green-lighted the second increment of the VH-71 presidential helicopter program, an initiative that could cost $11.2 billion - $4.4 billion higher than initial estimates.
Late last year, the Pentagon essentially put the VH-71 program on hold after talks with White House officials about the future of the embattled effort. But, according to defense officials, those talks stalemated when the two sides could not agree on how to proceed.
"The White House has decided to proceed with the complete VH-71 program, which includes two Increments," Pentagon acquisition chief John Young said in a March 14 statement. "The current fleet of helicopters is roughly 30 years old and has deficiencies in terms of communications, performance and safety."
Lockheed Martin, Agusta and Bell Helicopter Textron teamed to win the Navy's contract to build a new chief executive chopper in 2005, beating Sikorsky, which pitched the VH-92, a variant of the H-92 Superhawk.
Since then, skyrocketing costs and engineering issues have slowed development and caused heartburn inside the Pentagon about the fate of the program."
Presidential Helo Price Swells to $11.2 Billion - Defense News
VH-71 Kestrel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Late last year, the Pentagon essentially put the VH-71 program on hold after talks with White House officials about the future of the embattled effort. But, according to defense officials, those talks stalemated when the two sides could not agree on how to proceed.
"The White House has decided to proceed with the complete VH-71 program, which includes two Increments," Pentagon acquisition chief John Young said in a March 14 statement. "The current fleet of helicopters is roughly 30 years old and has deficiencies in terms of communications, performance and safety."
Lockheed Martin, Agusta and Bell Helicopter Textron teamed to win the Navy's contract to build a new chief executive chopper in 2005, beating Sikorsky, which pitched the VH-92, a variant of the H-92 Superhawk.
Since then, skyrocketing costs and engineering issues have slowed development and caused heartburn inside the Pentagon about the fate of the program."
Presidential Helo Price Swells to $11.2 Billion - Defense News
VH-71 Kestrel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
