The race is on — again — to select the next helicopter for the President of the United States.
On May 3, the U.S. Navy issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the VXX Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program, officially launching the latest competition to replace the aging fleet of VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N White Hawk helicopters operated by Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1). Proposals are due in 90 days with a goal to award a fixed-price incentive engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract, with production options, by mid-calendar year 2014.
“Our acquisition approach includes a full and open competition to select a prime contractor that can best integrate mature subsystems into an air vehicle currently in production for an affordable solution that meets mission requirements,” stated Captain Dean Peters, the program manager charged with development of the replacement aircraft, in a Naval Air Systems Command Press Release. “We’re seeking a technically viable, cost-effective vertical lift aircraft to replace the current fleet as these reach the end of their useful service life. The Department of the Navy is committed to deliver a safe and reliable new Presidential Helicopter fleet, while maintaining the In-Service Fleet until that replacement is fielded.”
The Marine Corps currently operates 11 VH-3D and eight VH-60N helicopters. Both aircraft are well past their original 20-year service life expectations: the VH-3Ds were originally placed in service in 1974 and 1975, while the VH-60s entered service in the 1980s. But the VH-71 program that was intended to replace the fleet with a platform based on the AgustaWestland EH101 (now AW101) was cancelled in 2009 after four years of skyrocketing development costs that were projected to hit $13 billion, double the initial budget for the project. (The Canadian Department of National Defence later purchased nine VH-71 airframes in various stages of completion for $164 million Cdn.; although they were originally purchased for spare parts, the Canadian government is now reportedly investigating whether they can be made operational.)
The Navy is anxious to avoid a repeat of the VH-71 experience. In a draft RFP issued in November 2012, the Navy encouraged prospective bidders to propose an existing, in-production helicopter platform for the VXX program. “It is the government’s desire to hold development to an absolute minimum on the VXX program and focus the program effort on integration of mature subsystems on a mature platform,” the draft RFP stated.
But the bidders this time around may not look too different from last time. On April 30, AgustaWestland North America CEO R. Scott Rettig told media, including Vertical, that he sees the VXX program as a “two-horse race” between a platform based on the AW101 and one based on the Sikorsky S-92. “Having won the initial VXX competition the first time with the AW101, against even tougher requirements, we are excited to be teamed with Northrop Grumman to evaluate the opportunity to win again,” he said. “The AW101 is a combat-proven aircraft with the inherent safety features and design that are ideal for the Marine One mission.”
Meantime, AgustaWestland’s original partner on the VH-71 program, Lockheed Martin, has partnered with Sikorsky to offer an S-92 platform for the Marine One helicopter fleet. In a statement issued on May 3, Sikorsky said, “Sikorsky brings unmatched experience, having flown every commander in chief since President Eisenhower. When combined with Lockheed Martin’s systems integration expertise, our team provides unparalleled knowledge of Presidential helicopter transport.”
Boeing previously indicated that it would consider submitting a proposal based on the CH-47 Chinook or the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey, but it has not confirmed its entry into the competition.
According to the Navy, during the EMD phase of the VXX program, the selected contractor will provide six test aircraft, four of which will become operational aircraft. During the production phase, the RFP calls for 17 operational aircraft (four in low-rate initial production (LRIP) 1, five in LRIP 2 and eight in full-rate production), for a fleet total of 21 aircraft.
The scope of the RFP also includes associated support equipment for the aircraft, integration of mature, government-defined mission systems into an existing aircraft, development of a training system, including a flight training device and a maintenance training device; logistics, engineering and test and evaluation support; and the appropriate security environment.
In other Navy procurement news, the Navy is holding an industry day this week for the MH-XX Maritime Capabilities Assessment (CBA), which seeks to “ascertain capability gaps incurred with aging and expected retirement of the MH-60 Seahawk helicopters beginning in the 2028 timeframe.” The Navy issued a request for information for the CBA last month; responses are due on May 21.
